Isthmus of Suez

The Isthmus of Suez is a narrow piece of land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It is 125 kilometers (78 miles) long and lies east of the modern Suez Canal. It marks the boundary between Africa and Asia. To the south, the Gulf of Suez separates Egypt from the Sinai Peninsula.

This area is flat and dry, with few hills and rocky places. The weather is very hot and there is little rain.

Long ago, the ancient Egyptians built a canal through the Isthmus of Suez. Later, groups like the Persians, the Ptolemies, and the Romans improved the canal.

Suez Canal

Main article: Suez Canal

In 1869, a canal called the Suez Canal was built through a strip of land between two seas. This canal is a very busy shipping route and helps Egypt earn money. It lets ships travel between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean without going all the way around Africa. This saves time and fuel.