Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route from the North Atlantic through the Arctic and eventually to the North Pacific. Due to the presence of many Canadian islands and the cold climate, the passage is only open for part of the year.
Historically many explorers such as Henry Hudson tried to find it, but even after it was discovered it was never really a practical shipping route due to ice.
The 19th Century Franklin expedition is the most famous failed expedition. Both ships and all their crew were lost. Roald Amundsen's 1903 expedition was the first successful transit.[1] He transited in a small, shallow draft, former fishing vessel, the Gjoa, and it took him approximately three years. He and his small crew benefitted from adopting the clothing and hunting styles of the Inuit.
Amundsen's route travelled through passages too shallow for practical use by full size vessels.[1]
The second and third transits of the Northwest Passage were accomplished by Henry Larsen, in command of the RCMP St Roch, during World Was II.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Henry Larsen and the St. Roch". The Canadian Encyclopedia. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2025-06-11.