The term SUEZ or ERIE is a reference to two canals, the Suez CANAL and the Erie CANAL. The Suez CANAL is a man-made waterway located in Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It was built in 1869 and is one of the most important shipping routes in the world. The Erie CANAL is a CANAL in New York State that connects the Hudson River to Lake Erie. It was built in 1825 and was an important transportation route for goods and people in the 19th century.