Egyptian rulers of the Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, Persians, Greeks, (probably) Romans, and Fatimids all dug or redug (and probably used, at least briefly) a c

Egyptian rulers of the Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, Persians, Greeks, (probably) Romans, and Fatimids all dug or redug (and probably used, at least briefly) a canal or canals from the Nile to the Great Bitter Lakes and Red Sea. The Ptolemaic version even apparently had a lock to prevent salt water intrusion. It went in and out of service (depending mostly, it seems, on ability to maintain it) until it was closed 767 for political reasons. It seems to have been easier to create, as the Red Sea was closer, but hard to keep open due to silt from the Nile. I don't think it looks like much now, as I'm unable to find any photos of it. The physical remains were unknown until discovered by Napoleon's expedition, so it's probably been quite swallowed by the desert save for archaeological traces.