The southern tip of South America is known as Cape Horn (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Horn https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Horn). It's an unpredict

The southern tip of South America is known as Cape Horn (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Horn https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Horn). It's an unpredictable and dangerous area, hence the popularity of the Panama Canal. Russia is huge, hence a lot of river shipping. Control of the seas would bring a lot of influence, hence the British control of Gibraltar and the complex history of the Suez Canal.