Suez Canal

Why in news?

• The Suez Canal was blocked in both directions by a container ship called Ever Given which ran aground after a strong gust of wind blew it off course.

About the Canal:

• The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea .
• It passes through the Isthmus of Suez ,dividing Africa and Asia.
• It was officially opened on 17 November 1869 and offers watercraft a more direct route between the North Atlantic and northern Indian oceans via the Mediterranean and Red seas.
• It reduces the journey distance from the Arabian Sea to Europe by approximately 8,900 kilometres or 8-10 days.
• Its length is 193.30 km including its northern and southern access-channels. In 2020, over 18,500 vessels traversed the canal (an average of 51.5 per day).
• The canal is operated and maintained by the state-owned Suez Canal Authority (SCA) of Egypt.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Suez Canal:
1.It was built in 1943 during second world war.
2.It is maintained and operated by Egypt.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2 
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question: B