The ancient Babylonian canals and waterways are the most similar in function to the Suez canal. It is a man-made canal that runs between Africa and the Sinai Penselua. It is primarily used by large shipping companies as a shortcut down the East Coast of Africa from Europe. Ships used to have to go all the way down the West Coast of Africa, around the Horn of Africa to get to Eastern Africa. Manmade canals and waterways are also used in low-lying countries such as the Netherlands to drain the water from the land into the sea.
