The correct answer is: D. Panama canal, Central America
The Panama Canal is a 48-mile (77 km) ship canal in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The canal cuts through the Isthmus of Panama and is one of the most important shipping routes in the world. It allows ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans without having to go around South America.
The canal was built by the United States between 1904 and 1914. It is operated by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous agency of the government of Panama.
The canal is a vital part of the global economy. It allows ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in a fraction of the time it would take to go around South America. This saves time and money for shipping companies and their customers.
The canal is also a popular tourist destination. Millions of people visit the canal each year to see the ships passing through the locks and to learn about its history.
The other options are:
- A. St. Laurence Seaway (USA and Canada) is a series of canals and locks that connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. It is the longest canal system in the world, but it is not a single canal.
- B. Suez canal, Egypt is a 120-mile (193 km) canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It is the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.
- C. Kiel canal, Germany is a 61-mile (98 km) canal that connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. It is the shortest shipping route between Germany and Scandinavia.