<P> The Suez Canal ( Arabic : قناة السويس ‎ ‎ qanāt as - suwēs ) is an artificial sea - level waterway in Egypt , connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez . Constructed by the Suez Canal Company between 1859 and 1869 , it was officially opened on November 17 , 1869 . The canal offers watercraft a shorter journey between the North Atlantic and northern Indian Oceans via the Mediterranean and Red seas by avoiding the South Atlantic and southern Indian oceans , in turn reducing the journey by approximately 7,000 kilometres ( 4,300 mi ) . It extends from the northern terminus of Port Said to the southern terminus of Port Tewfik at the city of Suez . Its length is 193.30 km ( 120.11 mi ) , including its northern and southern access channels . In 2012 , 17,225 vessels traversed the canal ( 47 per day ) . </P>
where is the suez canal located on a map
It extends from the northern terminus of Port Said to the southern terminus of Port Tewfik at the city of Suez