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Ismaïlia Canal

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This article is about the canal in Egypt. For the general concept of a "fresh water canal", see Aqueduct (watercourse) and Canal.
Fresh Water Canal.

Sweet Water Canal, also known as Fresh Water Canal or Ismaïlia Canal, is a modern canal of Egypt, also called the Ismaïlia Canal, that runs through the now dry distributary of the Wadi Tumilat[1] and from Cairo to Suez.[1] Designed by French engineers, it was constructed between 1861 and 1863.[1]

The course that this canal follows reportedly incorporated portions of an earlier "Suez" canal[2]: 251–257  that existed between Old Cairo and the Red Sea – constructed by either 'Amr ibn al-'As, Omar the Great, or Trajan.[1][2]

The terms Fresh Water Canal, Sweet Water Canal and Ismaïlia Canal have been used interchangeably by previous writers. For example, Rappoport states that it is "the fresh-water canal which supplies drinking water" between "Port Said and all the floating population about the banks of the Suez Canal."[2]: 267 

Personal Royal Air Force service reminiscence

Whilst serving with the Royal Air Force, between August 1953 and January 1956, I had postings to three RAF camps in the 'Canal Zone'. These were Kabrit, Kasfareet and Fayid. As a Motor Transport Driver, almost on a daily basis, I drove various vehicles along the "Treaty Road", which was, I understand, built by the British Army at some time. For the most part, both the "Treaty Road" and the "Canal Road" ran parallel to each other. The "Canal Road", having been built and maintained by the French, contained a superior surface to the 'British' counterpart! The "Sweet Water Canal" was the name used by Egyptian natives and ALL British servicemen at the time in question. It was a common place occurrence to see dead cattle and dogs floating in this 'canal' at all times when passing this 'waterway' between the Kasfereet bridge/railway level-crossing and Fanara. The "Treaty Road" ran alongside this very smelly edifice, and servicemen were reminded by medical bulletins, that we were on no account to use the water, or even touch the contents!

– C.A.Pearce

References

  1. ^ a b c d Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition, s.v. "Suez Canal". Accessed 8 August 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Rappoport S. "Chapter V: "The Waterways of Egypt"". Vol. Volume 12, Part B. London: The Grolier Society http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17332. Retrieved 11 March 2013. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help); |work= ignored (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
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