Spotlight on the Suez Canal

Egypt has  full control of the Suez Canal, as of 1962. It is operated by the Suez Canal Authority. The canal begins at Point Said in the Mediterranean Sea and ends at Suez at the Gulf of Suez. The canal runs from north to south. It separates the African continent from Asia. The canal is not wide enough for two ships to pass side by side. There is one shipping lane and several passing ones. It is one of the world's most used waterways and is beneficial for trade. The canal is considered a checkpoint because it can be blocked easily and therefore disrupt trade.