Final answer:
The Suez Canal connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, serving as a key maritime route for global trade and navigation. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The canal that connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea is the Suez Canal. This artificial sea-level waterway not only physically separates the African continent from Asia but also serves as a vital shipping route, offering the shortest maritime path between Europe and lands around the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
Initially completed in 1869, its creation involved a significant international effort led by the French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, and since its opening, it has become one of the busiest waterways globally, greatly facilitating trade and strategic military movements.
Hence, Option a is correct.