3-028-400 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Bitter Lakes, Suez Canal, 1870. 'An inland sea now extends as far as the eye can reach; large steam-ships are passing over it with screws or paddles, or sailing-vessels with canvas spread to the breeze; the lighthouses stand like "wonderful lamps," erected there to guide the mariner, and iron beacons are placed in rows to point out the channel of safety. The transformation is so complete, from the parched, sandy desert, to the view of a liquid, fresh, blue sea, apparently extending beyond the horizon, that if the old magicians have not been at work, one feels there must have been a still more potent enchantment brought to bear on the scene...Our Illustration of the Bitter Lakes is taken from the entrance to the canal at the northern end. The mountain of Gebel Attaka is seen in the distance, with the lower range of Gebel Gennafé nearer the lake. There is a small iron lighthouse at each extremity of the lake, which marks the entrances to the canal, and from the lighthouse to the canal the channel is indicated by iron posts surmounted by round disks. A depth of 28 ft. and 30 ft. of water is reported by those who sounded all through the Bitter Lakes'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.