In pics: historical facts on Suez Canal in its 150th anniversary

CAIRO - 17 November 2019: Egypt celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Suez Canal, which was inaugurated on November 17, 1869 after 10 years of work.


A caravan crossing the Suez Canal


A painting of a ferry crossing the Suez Canal
The following are key facts on the canal:

- The Suez Canal is an artificial double waterway extending over 193 kilometers and connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

- Vertically, the canal is divided into eastern and southern sections of Bitter Lakes, while horizontally, it is cross cut by double passages.
- The canal saves ships 15 days compared with Cape of Good Hope.

- The idea of digging up the canal rose for the first time amid the advent of French Campaign in Egypt and Syria in 1798.

- In 1854, Ferdinand de Lesseps persuaded Khedive Said of embarking on the project and was granted the Suez Canal digging and operation concession for 99 years.


House of Ferdinand De Lesseps in Ismailiyah that is now a the Suez Canal Museum

- The canal was dug between 1859 and 1869 by around 1 million Egyptians. Of those, more than 120,000 died while working because of hunger, thirst, epidemics, and abuse.

Painting of workers digging the Suez Canal in the 19th century
- A lavish inauguration ceremony was held and attended by royal guests.


Painting of the Suez Canal inauguration ceremony installed on the memorial located in Ismailiyah


Invitation of the Suez Canal inauguration ceremony

- In 1905, the foreign company running the canal attempted to extend the concession duration for 50 years but failed.


Photo taken in 1900 for the then local headquarters of the Suez Canal Company

Modern Photo of the headquarters of the Suez Canal Authority

- In July 1956, late President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal. The response to the decision was the tripartite aggression by Britain, France, and Israel. However, they retreated due to international pressure and popular resistance.

- The canal was shut down for more than 8 years because of the Six-Day War in 1967 and was reopened by late President Anwar al-Saddat in 1975 after resolving the conflict with Israel and achieving ceasefire following October 6, 1973 War.


The northern exit of the Suez Canal

The Southern entrance of the Suez Canal

- Since 1980, the Suez Canal has been enlarged several times to reduce the time spent by ships while crossing, most recently after the inauguration of the New Suez Canal (a parallel canal) on August 6, 2015.

Logo adopted by the Suez Canal Authority following the inauguration of the new canal in 2015

The differences in Suez Canal depth over the years
- Some 8-12 percent of global trade passes through the Suez Canal.

- The canal’s investment zone called SCzone houses 192 enterprises worth $25 billion. The target is to achieve $55-billion investments in the zone within 15 years, offering a total of a million jobs.

- In FY2018/2019, the Suez Canal’s revenues grew by 5.4 percent compared to the previous year, hitting $5.9 billion with a rise worth $300 million.


Al Salam Bridge connecting the eastern and western shores of the canal located in Al Qantara zone


El Ferdan Railway Bridge spanning the western shipping lane of the Suez Canal near Ismailia. It is the world’s longest swing bridge with a span of 1,100 feet.

The western entrance of Martyr Ahmed Hamdy passing beneath the Suez Canal


Ahmed Fadel Supply Support Vessel worth $40 million and owned by the Suez Canal Authority


A dredger owned by the Suez Canal Authority