Great Bitter Lake

#GreatBitterLake

The Great Bitter Lake is a large saltwater lake in Egypt, located in the Suez Canal zone. It plays a significant role geographically, politically, and historically.

Location & Description

Situated between the cities of Ismailia (north) and Suez (south).

Part of the Suez Canal, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea.

It serves as a natural widening of the canal, allowing ships to pass each other or anchor.

Physical Features

• Not a freshwater lake—it is saline, with high evaporation rates.

• Originally separate from the Red Sea, it became part of the Suez Canal system when the canal was completed in 1869.

Historical Importance

• During the Six-Day War in 1967, 15 cargo ships were trapped in the lake due to the closure of the Suez Canal.

These ships became known as the “Yellow Fleet”, stranded there until 1975.

• In 1945, the Great Bitter Lake Conference took place here aboard the USS Quincy. This was a key diplomatic meeting between:

Franklin D. Roosevelt (U.S. President)

King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud (founder of Saudi Arabia)

It marked the beginning of U.S.–Saudi relations.

#Egypt

#Ethiopia

#SaudiArabia

Strategic Role

• Vital for global maritime trade.

• Ships sometimes use the lake to anchor and wait for convoys or avoid bottlenecks.

Would you like maps, historical photos, or more detail on a specific event like the “Yellow Fleet” or Roosevelt’s meeting?