Northwest Passage

Red line shows the 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.

• 

  Parry Channel: East end at Lancaster Sound north of Baffin Island.

• 

  Parry Channel: West end at Prince of Wales Strait northwest of Victoria Island.

• 

  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 within it, and the Northwest Passage

• 

  Assumed route of the Strait of Anián

• 

  Skirmish between Martin Frobisher's men and Inuit, c. 1577–78

• 

  Ellis expedition: Voyage to Hudson Bay, in 1746 and 1747

• 

  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