<human>:  What is the history of the Suez Canal?
<bot>: The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. The canal was originally constructed in 1869 by the French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps and was initially opened to ships in 1869. The canal is one of the most significant waterways in the world, connecting the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa while providing passage for oil tankers, cargo ships, and other vessels. Construction of the canal took over 10 years and the workforce included an estimated 115,000 workers from Egypt, the UK, Malta, Italy, and France. The canal was a part of Egypt’s economy for many years and provided a backbone for Egypt’s military Might. In 1956, the canal was nationalized by Egypt after the Suez Crisis in which forces from the United Kingdom, France, and Israel unsuccessfully attempted to seize control of the canal. The canal was finally reopened in 1975 after a eight year closure due to the Yom Kippur War. Today, the canal serves as an important shipping route for international trade and provides hundreds of jobs to the people of Egypt.