Conversational theme № 5

I. Read, translate and learn the text

CANALS

Canals are artificially created sea passages and this is their difference from straits. Canals are designated for reduc­tion of sea routes and decreasing risk and danger of navigation. They are usually built in those places. Where their existence gives maximum efficiency and benefits for navigation, normal rate of passing through Suez canal equals 20 thousand vessels per year as 14 thousand vessels pass through Panama canal. Tech­nical improvements increase their traffic carrying capacity and the depth of the fairway in its turn increases the tonnage of by passing vessels. All this requires certain maritime law regula­tion regime and particular international rules for navigation which have to provide constant traffic of all nations through them.

For instance Corinth and Saimaa canals do not belong to the international water ways therefore they have their own navigation regime. Greek law regulates the passage through Corinth canal. Passage through Saimaa canal is determined by the agreement between Finland and Russia.

Kiel canal connects the Baltic sea and the North sea. It was built in 1896. The passage through this canal is regula­ted by the government of the Federal republic of Germany and foresees innocent passage for merchant vessels of all countries.

II. NOTES:

1.artificially - искусственно

2.designate - предназначать

3.traffic carrying capacity - пропускная способность

4. fairway - фарватер
III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1.Where and why do people excavate passages for ships?

2.What do canals give to people?

3.Who regulates the traffic through canals?

4.How many canals do you know?

5.What is the traffic carrying capacity of the Suez canal?