The Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage runs through the icy waters of northern Canada. For hundreds of years, sailors searched for it. They wanted a shorter way to sail from Europe to Asia. The thick sea ice made the journey very hard.

The Long Search

Explorers tried to find the passage as early as the 1500s. Many ships got stuck in the ice and were lost. Some crews never came home. It was one of the biggest challenges in the history of exploration.

A map showing part of the icy sea path through northern Canada.
A map showing part of the icy sea path through northern Canada. (Wikimedia Commons)

Success at Last

Roald Amundsen of Norway was the first to sail the whole passage. He did it between 1903 and 1906. His small ship took three years to make the trip. Today, melting ice has made the route easier to travel.

Fun Facts

  • The lost Franklin Expedition of 1845 is one of the most famous Arctic mysteries.
  • Polar bears, walruses, and seals live along the passage.
  • The route can save ships thousands of miles compared to other paths.

Did You Know?

Amundsen, who conquered the Northwest Passage, was also the first person to reach the South Pole!