The Northwest Passage, a sea route connecting the North Atlantic with the North Pacific Ocean, was first sailed by Roald Amundsen in the early 20th century. Early explorers sought the passage to find a way to Asia that was not controlled by European countries. Many attempts were made to find the passage, but it was not until Amundsen’s voyage that it was successfully navigated. The passage is currently not viable for commercial purposes, but with the rate of ice melt in the Arctic, there is debate about ownership and its potential as a waterway.
Roald Amundsen first sailed the Northwest Passage in the early 20th century. It is a sea route in the Arctic Ocean that connects the North Atlantic with the North Pacific Ocean. Prior to Amundsen’s sailing this route, explorers had dreamed of finding the passage for centuries. When the Pacific and Atlantic coasts were first explored, explorers theorized that there must be a way to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific by sea. Little did they realize how arduous the task would be and, as Amundsen discovered, how useless the sea route is currently for commercial purposes.
Part of the motivation behind researching the Northwest Passage was to find a way, not owned by some European countries, to Asia. Trade with Asia was lucrative and importing some of the precious things like spices and tea meant high costs for those who didn’t have trade agreements with Asian countries. At first, Italy controlled much of Europe’s trade with Asia. When the New World was discovered, the still strong Catholic presence in Europe prompted the pope to divide the New World into ownership between Spain and Portugal. It should also be remembered that early explorers such as Columbus set out in search of an Atlantic route to Asia, and Columbus thought he had found India when he reached the Caribbean.
Other countries were highly motivated to find a route to Asia that the pope did not control, in order to save money and make a profit on the Asian imports that were becoming so prized. Especially England, France and the Netherlands were enthusiastic about the concept of the Northwest Passage, leading to numerous exploration attempts. Early explorers had a remarkable naivety when considering an arctic passage; many did not believe that seawater could freeze, so consideration of frozen ocean waters was not a factor.
Early attempts to find the Northwest Passage include explorations dating back to the late 1490s. John Cabot, who may have been Italian by birth, was commissioned by English King Henry VII to search for it. Cabot may have reached Newfoundland and returned reporting finding Asia. Sir Francis Drake attempted to find the passage east of the Pacific Ocean, in 1579. During the 1500s other attempts to find the passage were by Jacques Cartier, Martin Frobisher, John Davis and Sir Humphrey Gilbert.
In the early 17th century, Henry Hudson led several expeditions for the Dutch and English. His crew, however, particularly on his last voyage in 17-1610, were infuriated with him for the delays caused by the ice. Hudson planned to continue sailing west once they reached what is now called Hudson Bay, but his crew, upon discovering the plans, abandoned Hudson and his son in the frigid waters near Newfoundland. On a previous expedition, Hudson had tried to find the pass by going up the Hudson River, which he actually thought of as a Southwest Passage.
Expeditions and research of the Northwest Passage continued throughout the early history of colonized America and Canada, but it was not until Amundsen’s voyage that the passage was successfully navigated. His discovery of the passage made it clear to all that it was not wide enough or stable enough to create shipping lanes. It was also navigable only at certain times of the year.
Given the rate of ice melt in the Arctic, many wonder if the Northwest Passage could become a viable waterway at a later date. Such thinking has led to considerable debate about which countries could claim ownership of the passage. Though closer to Canada, both the European Union and the United States have suggested that the passage, if ever viable, should be considered an international strait. To date, the easiest route is the Southwest Passage, made practically passable by the construction of the Panama Canal.
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