A manmade marvel connecting Europe and Asia, the Suez Canal revolutionized global trade.
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Napoleon’s dream of a canal connecting the Mediterranean to the Red Sea sparked the idea in the early 19th century.
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Erroneous calculations halted the French plan, believing the Red Sea was higher than the Mediterranean.
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In 1859, the Suez Canal Company, led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, began construction through the Egyptian desert.
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Over 120,000 laborers lost their lives during the decade-long construction, a tragic cost of progress.
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After ten years of construction, the Suez Canal opened, dramatically shortening global shipping routes.
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The canal became a vital route for trade, military strategy, and connecting continents.
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Egypt’s nationalization of the canal led to an international conflict, showcasing its geopolitical significance.
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With over 18,000 ships annually, the canal remains a key artery for global commerce.
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Spanning 190 km, the canal is one of humanity’s greatest engineering achievements.
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Despite its triumph, the canal’s history is shadowed by the loss of thousands of laborers.
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From trade routes to oil shipments, the Suez Canal continues to shape our world.
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Image source: By Unknown author - Scanned from engraving in Appleton's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, 1869., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org