The Suez Canal connects which two important seas in global navigation?

Introduction / Context:
The Suez Canal is one of the most important man made waterways in the world and plays a crucial role in international trade by providing a direct maritime route between Europe and Asia. Geography and general knowledge exams often ask about which seas or oceans are connected by major canals and straits. This question focuses on the Suez Canal and tests whether you know exactly which two seas are linked by this canal in Egypt, thereby greatly shortening the route between Europe and the Indian Ocean region.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The canal named in the question is the Suez Canal in Egypt.
• We are asked to identify the two seas that it connects.
• Options mention combinations involving the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and others.
• We consider only the direct connection created by the canal.

Concept / Approach:
The Suez Canal provides a direct sea link between the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the Red Sea in the south. Ships moving from Europe to Asia can avoid the long and dangerous route around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. The Arabian Sea and other water bodies are part of the extended route, but the canal itself physically joins the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Knowing this specific pairing is essential for many map based questions and understanding global trade routes and choke points.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Suez Canal is located in Egypt, running north south through the Isthmus of Suez. Step 2: Remember that its northern end opens into the Mediterranean Sea near Port Said. Step 3: Remember that its southern end opens into the Red Sea near Suez and the Gulf of Suez. Step 4: Check the given options and identify the pair Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea as matching this description. Step 5: Confirm that other sea combinations mentioned in the options belong to different canals or regions, not to the Suez Canal.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall that the Suez Canal is frequently described in textbooks as connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. Diagrams of global trade routes show ships leaving European ports, entering the Mediterranean, passing through the Suez Canal, and then entering the Red Sea, followed by the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. The Kiel Canal connects the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, not the Suez Canal. This contrasting knowledge helps confirm that Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea is the correct pairing for the Suez Canal.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Red Sea and Arabian Sea: The Arabian Sea is further east; ships move from the Red Sea into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Aden, but that part is not the Suez Canal connection itself.
Arabian Sea and Mediterranean Sea: There is no single canal directly linking these two; the connection is indirect via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
North Sea and Baltic Sea: This pair is connected by the Kiel Canal in Germany, not by the Suez Canal in Egypt.
Black Sea and Caspian Sea: These seas are connected by inland waterways and canals in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, but they are unrelated to the Suez Canal.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus on the entire shipping route and think of the Arabian Sea as directly connected by the canal. Another error is mixing the Suez Canal with the Kiel Canal or the Panama Canal because all are famous man made waterways. To avoid confusion, remember that Suez equals Mediterranean plus Red Sea, while Kiel equals North Sea plus Baltic Sea, and Panama equals Atlantic plus Pacific Oceans. This mental association keeps the answers clear and distinct in exam situations.

Final Answer:
The Suez Canal connects the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea.