The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean sea and the Red Sea. It is owned by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) of Egypt. Under international treaty, it may be used "in time of war as in time of peace, by every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag." The canal is 120.11 miles long, 79 feet deep, and 673 feet wide. In 2008, the total amount of money that passed through the canal was 5.381 billion dollars, spread over 21,415 vessels, approximately $251,000 per vessel. It played an important role in allowing Europeans to get ships to Africa faster to colonize during the age of Imperialism when it was first completed in 1869. The Convention of Constantinople in 1888 established that the canal was a neutral zone. Now under the protection of the UN, no country, no matter what the circumstance or situation, can be restricted from accessing the canal.