In which year was the Suez Canal completed and formally opened to international shipping?

Introduction / Context:
The Suez Canal is one of the most important artificial waterways in the world, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and providing a direct route between Europe and Asia. The year of its completion is a standard fact in world history and geography, as it marks a turning point in global trade and navigation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the year of completion and opening of the Suez Canal.

• Options are 1859, 1869, 1871, and 1889.

• The canal was constructed in the nineteenth century under French led engineering projects.

• Only one of the years is historically correct for the formal opening.

Concept / Approach:
The Suez Canal was officially opened in 1869 after about ten years of construction. Before this date, there were discussions and earlier attempts, but 1869 is widely recorded as the year when the canal began operation for global shipping. Remembering this date helps in understanding changes in trade routes, such as the reduced need to sail around the Cape of Good Hope.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the commonly quoted date when the Suez Canal was inaugurated for navigation. Step 2: Recognise that 1869 is the historically accepted year of the canals official opening. Step 3: Note that 1859 is too early and instead corresponds roughly to the start of construction. Step 4: Observe that 1871 and 1889 are later dates and do not match standard history references for the completion. Step 5: Conclude that 1869 is the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
History textbooks, encyclopedias, and canal authority timelines all mention 1869 as the year in which the Suez Canal was formally opened. Many sources cite a ceremonial opening with ships passing through the canal in that year. Other dates may refer to different events such as construction milestones or later expansions, but not to the initial completion and opening.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 1859 is too early and matches the period when digging and engineering work were beginning rather than the completion date.

• 1871 is slightly later than 1869 and does not correspond to the official inauguration.

• 1889 is much later and relates neither to the original completion nor to any major re opening event of the same importance.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may confuse the start and completion dates or may simply misremember the digits. A simple way to fix the date in memory is to associate the Suez Canal with the phrase opened in 1869, which you can link to the broader context of nineteenth century industrial and colonial expansion.

Final Answer:
The Suez Canal was completed and opened in the year 1869.