Which one of the following statements about the Suez Canal is not correct?

The Suez Canal is a sea-level waterway that does not utilize a lock system [2]. Unlike the Panama Canal, which uses locks to lift ships over terrain, the Suez Canal is an open cut that connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea directly because the water levels of the two seas are roughly the same [2][5]. It was officially opened on November 17, 1869, after a decade of construction led by Ferdinand de Lesseps [1][3]. The canal serves as a critical maritime shortcut, providing Europe with a direct gateway to the Indian Ocean and Asia without the need to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope [1][2][4]. This significantly reduced the distance and travel time for international trade between the West and the East [1][4][5]. Therefore, the statement claiming it has a six-lock system is incorrect.

Sources

1. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > The Suez Canal > p. 63
2. [5] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Suez-Canal
3. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INDIA AND THE GEO-POLITICS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN > p. 64
4. [3] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The World after World War II > Suez Canal > p. 254
5. [4] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > The Mediterranean–Indian Ocean Sea Route > p. 62