Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea passage along the north coast of North America, through the Arctic Ocean. Because of ice, the passage is usually closed to ships.
The Spanish Empire wanted to reach Asia by a western route, because Portugal controlled the eastern route around the Cape of Good Hope. Spain wanted to have a route that it could control. This caused most European countries to search for a possible route. Roald Amundsen was the first person to navigate the passage between 1903 and 1906.
Global warming is increasing the melting for the Passage.
Northwest Passage Media
- Northwestpassage
Envisat ASAR mosaic of the Arctic Ocean (September 2007), showing the most direct route of the Northwest Passage open (yellow line) and the Northeast Passage partially opened (blue line). The dark grey colour represents the ice-free areas, while green represents areas with sea ice.
- Map indicating Lancaster Sound, Nunavut, Canada.png
Parry Channel: East end at Lancaster Sound north of Baffin Island.
- Map indicating Prince of Wales Strait, Northwest Territories, Canada.png
Parry Channel: West end at Prince of Wales Strait northwest of Victoria Island.
- Chart of the World showing New Route through Canada between England, China, Japan, Australasia and the East. By J. Johnston. Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Canada, 1886 CTASC.jpg
Chart of the World showing New Route (the Canadian Pacific Railway) through Canada between England, China, Japan, Australasia and the East (1886)
- Map of the Arctic region showing the Northeast Passage, the Northern Sea Route and Northwest Passage, and bathymetry.png
Map of the Arctic region showing the Northeast Passage, the Northern Sea Route within it, and the Northwest Passage
Assumed route of the Strait of Anián
- John White – The skirmish at Bloody Point, Frobisher Bay (British Museum) (cropped).png
Skirmish between Martin Frobisher's men and Inuit, c. 1577–78
- Voyage à la baye de Hudson, fait en 1746 et 1747.jpg
Ellis expedition: Voyage to Hudson Bay, in 1746 and 1747
- North america 1765globe.jpg
Detail of 1765 de l'Isle globe*A 1765 de l'Isle globe, showing depiction of the Mississippi River and a fictional Northwest passage. Collection of the Minnesota Historical Society.
Other websites
- Northwest Passage Citizendium
