Spotlight on...

The Suez Canal

Today, the Suez Canal is controlled by Egypt's government, who get quite a bit of money via the tolls charged to cross the canal. It is used "extensively" (according to it's website) by modern ships, and is "one of the most important waterways in the world". It helps to get ships quickly from the Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific. It saves fuel, time, and most importantly, money, for those who need to ship goods to places in the Western Pacific or Indian Oceans. It is the shortest route between the East and West via water.