SUEZ CANAL, EGYPT - March 26, 2022

 SUEZ CANAL, EGYPT-  Port Said to Suez, north to south - March 26

The northern section of Suez Canal is only wide enough for traffic in one direction, so we lined up in a convoy and waited our turn. We were the lead ship and the only passenger cruise ship in our convoy.

An engineering marvel, the Suez Canal opened in 1869, joining the Mediterranean and Red Seas, making it the shortest maritime route to Asia from Europe.

Originally dug by hand, the canal has been expanded seven times. With a length of 120 miles, it takes up to 15 hours to traverse. The sea-level, single-lane waterway has no locks, and only two lakes allow north- and southbound ships to pass each other.

At 1st glance, it seems there’s nothing but Egyptian sand mounds and desert. But life goes on around the canal. Military bases, small farmlands, and palm trees appear occasionally along its banks. Many tall minarets of mosques can be seen, with much new construction in progress.

It's interesting to see so many huge container ships alongside tiny fishing and sail boats sharing the narrow turquoise water space.

 

Viking's photo of canal

Little sailboat sailing around all the huge cargo ships

Suez Canal Bridge, a road bridge crossing the Suez Canal at El-Qantar, linking the continents of Africa and Asia.

Fishing boat

This 50 meters high memorial is dedicated to the defense of the Suez Canal against the Ottoman Army during the First World War.