Suez+Canal

__Geography__   __History__  __Economic Impact__  __Bibliography__  __Images__
 * Suez Canal [[image:https://segue.atlas.uiuc.edu/uploads/rrosenb2/Suez%20Canal.jpg width="570" height="848"]] ** 
 * Artificial waterway connecting Mediterranean Sea to Red Sea.
 * 190 km long canal.
 * Only one lane available for traffic at all times.
 * It's the fastest crossing from the Atlantic ocean to the Indian ocean.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">The initial idea was for a connection between the Mediterranean and the red sea was in the 20th century b.c. was made by the Pharaohs. Then the canal was closed in the 8th century a.d.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">A french engineer in 1859 Ferdinand de Lesseps, planned and supervised the construction of the canal
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Opened on November 17, 1869.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">In 1888 the all major European powers signed a treaty called the Convention of Constantinople that declared the canal neutral and that guaranteed all European powers access during times of peace and of war
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">In 1936 Egypt became independent from the British colonial regime, but the British retained control over the canal
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">By 1954 Britain had agreed to withdraw forces from Egypt and by 1956 Egypt had received complete control over the canal
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Strategic location earns Egypt money because
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">it makes oil trade between western nations and middle east easier
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Ships carrying military troops pass through the canal
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Many Muslims going on pilgrimage go through instead of going around Africa.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Canal accounts for 7.5% of world sea trade.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Entry fee for each ship accounts for third largest source of income in Egypt
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Everyday canal earns Egypt about $5.3 million.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Double of what it used to be four years ago.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Earned $3.4 billion (2005)
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Egypt does not want to privatize the canal.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">Transit fees were increased by 7.1% in 2008.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/world/A0847110.html
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=376862
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 128); font-size: 140%;">https://segue.atlas.uiuc.edu/uploads/rrosenb2/Suez%20Canal.jpg