Question

In which year the Suez canal was opened?
A. 1845
B. 1850
C. 1869
D. 1873

Answer 1

Hint: - To find a shorter route for military and commercial shipping was the major motive for which the Suez Canal was opened.
- It is an artificial waterway in Egypt which connects the Mediterranean sea to the Red Sea and was constructed by Suez Canal Company whose founder was Ferdinand de Lesseps.

Complete Answer:
History: Its construction started from 25th September 1859 and was completed on 17th November 1869. Its total length extends from Port Said in the Mediterranean Sea to Port Tawfiq, originally which was said to be the entry point of the Suez canal, in the Red Sea up to 193 kilometres. This canal was opened under the control of Suez Canal Company in 1869. But after 13 years because of the financial crisis, the Egypt Government sold a few shares of the canal to the British government in 1882.
After 1882 it was owned by the United Kingdom and France until 1956. But when Gamal Abdel Nasser became the president of Egypt, he nationalised the Suez canal which gave rise to the Suez canal crisis. Thus the canal ownership was ultimately shifted to Suez Canal Authority (SCA) of Egypt and even today it is under its control.

Reasons to open the Suez Canal:
Before 1859 trade between Europe and Asia was carried by long sea routes from south of Africa covering the Atlantic ocean. The length of this route was about 18,800 kilometres and because of piracy, this route was also unsafe. But after the opening of the Suez canal, this distance was decreased to 11,600 Kilometers. This route has now become one of the busiest water routes of the world.

Thus the correct answer is C.

Note: - A canal connecting the Yellow Sea and the Yangtze River, named as Grand Canal located in China is the oldest and the longest canal of the world.
- When one talks about artificial waterways, Kiel Canal is the busiest waterway in the world.
- Panama Canal which cuts the isthmus of Panama joins the two big oceans which are the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.