The fate of channels

Control of the two major canals, the Suez and Panama, which connect the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, can adjust as the main water area of ??the planet, and the main sea routes. Thus, they have tremendous strategic significance and plays an important role in geopolitics. The same can be said about the economy. After all, it is clear that the possession of the channel can receive large revenues. The construction of the Panama Canal led to a clash with the interests of de Lesseps certain circles in the U.S.. After the collapse of its share of the enterprise construction of the canal passed to the Americans. For international shipping the Panama Canal was opened in 1920, six years after construction is completed. Area was actually occupied by American forces, although the appearance of legitimacy to give the White House has insisted on the signing in 1936 a supplementary agreement on the "protection" of Panama and the canal. As a result, there is place six U.S. bases: one-for land forces, three - Naval and two military - air. At the end of the last century, the annual income of U.S. exploitation of the Panama Canal was $ 150 million as rent Panama stood out a small amount not to exceed $ 2.3 million was only after the change of political regime in Panama in 1977 reached a mutual agreement, under which annual payments that State rose to $ 10 million Not simple was the destiny of the Suez Canal, which for years has been the subject of dispute between Britain and France, won in the end the British. After the July Revolution of 1952 British troops to leave Egypt, and soon the canal was nationalized, which led to armed aggression by Britain, France and Israel. And in 1967, as a result of the Arab - Israeli War of navigation on the canal was interrupted for a long period and resumed only in June 1975. Today the Suez Canal, which accounts for approximately 10% of the world's sea lanes, bringing even greater profits than Panama. In 2009, after it has passed 17,155 vessels, which, incidentally, is 20% less than the previous, pre-crisis year when the budget of Egypt has received more than $ 5 billion operation of the channel fills up the country's budget is greater than oil and tourism. No wonder that the Egyptian authorities so kind to his national heritage: in 2005 they began another of his reconstruction. Its main aim is to deepen the channel, which will move via a super-modern high-powered tankers. Today, the channel length is 162.25 km, which the court held an average of 14 hours.