The Suez Canal is a sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez. Opened in 1869, it provides the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and Western Pacific oceans. Unlike the Panama Canal, it has no locks because the terrain is flat and the sea levels at both ends are nearly the same. The canal was designed by French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps and took ten years of forced labor to complete. It is one of the world's most heavily used shipping lanes, accounting for about 12% of global trade. In 2021, the canal gained worldwide attention when the 'Ever Given,' a massive container ship, became wedged across the canal, blocking all traffic for six days and causing a global supply chain crisis.