ຄອງສຸເອສໃໝ່ ຈະເປີດໃຊ້ 6 ສິງຫານີ້

The Suez Canal has been operating since 1869, basically making it possible to get from Europe to Asia by sea, without looping around Africa. (Heather Murdock/VOA)

Building the original canal was fraught with problems and was a short-term economic disaster. But last year, Canal authorities reported the waterway's largest annual income of $5.5 billion. (Heather Murdock/VOA)

Construction of the expansion, called the "new" canal was originally expected to take three years. But last year Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi announced the project would finish in a year. Picture taken June 13. 2015. (Heather Murdock/VOA)

Giant waterspouts flow water from the old part of the canal to the new, raising the water level. Picture taken June 13, 2015). (Heather Murdock/VOA)

Officials compare the project, set to be complete like "a battle" because the work is going on around the clock. The expansion is expected to reduce travel time for shippers by 50 percent. Picture taken June 13, 2015. (Heather Murdock/VOA)

Officials say the Suez Canal expansion is one of many projects intended to help recover the economy by boosting foreign investment, including along the Canal's shores. Picture taken June 12, 2015. (Heather Mudock/VOA)