From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Land bridge connecting mainland Asia with mainland Africa
The
Isthmus of Suez
is the 125-kilometre-wide (78 mi)
land bridge
[1]
that lies between the
Mediterranean Sea
and the
Red Sea
, east of the
Suez Canal
, the boundary between the
continents
of
Africa
and
Asia
.
[2]
To the south is the
Gulf of Suez
, dividing mainland Egypt from the
Sinai Peninsula
. The area is mostly flat and barren, with a few hills and rocky outcroppings. The climate is hot and dry, with very little rainfall.
The Isthmus of Suez is located within the country of
Egypt
. The
ancient Egyptians
built a canal through the isthmus, which was later expanded and improved by the
Persians
, the
Ptolemies
, and the
Romans
.
Suez Canal
[
edit
]
In 1869, a new canal was built through the
isthmus
, known as the Suez Canal. The canal is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and is a major source of revenue for Egypt. The Suez Canal allows ships to travel between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean without having to sail around Africa, saving time and fuel.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]