Northwest Passage Expeditions
- John Cabot. John Cabot, a Venetian navigator living in England, became the first European to explore the Northwest Passage in 1497.
- Jacques Cartier. In 1534, King Francis I of France sent explorer Jacques Cartier to the New World in search of riches… and a faster route to Asia.
- Francisco de Ulloa. ...
- Henry Hudson. ...
- John Franklin. ...
- Roald Amundsen. ...
Who was the first European to find the Northwest Passage?
Europeans developed interest in the sea passage after the Ottoman Empire monopolized major overland trade routes between Europe and Asia in the fifteenth century. John Cabot, a Venetian navigator living in England, became the first European to explore the Northwest Passage in 1497.
What happened to the ships that explored the Northwest Passage?
The most tragic Northwest Passage expedition may have been that led by English Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin in 1845. Franklin’s expedition set sail with 128 men aboard two ships, the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror. The ships vanished.
Did Jacques Cartier find the Northwest Passage?
In 1534, King Francis I of France sent explorer Jacques Cartier to the New World in search of riches… and a faster route to Asia. He took two ships and 61 men with him, exploring the coast of Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence and discovering today’s Prince Edward Island, but not the Northwest Passage.
Why is the Northwest Passage important to Canada?
The Northwest Passage is one of Canada’s most exciting chapters of discovery, history and exploration. The Northwest Passage is a sea corridor connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Canada’s Arctic Archipelago islands and along the northern-most coast of North America.
Who searched for the Northwest Passage for England?
The voyages of Captain James Cook There were many expeditions in search of a Northwest Passage during the 1700s. They include the voyages of Frances Smith, Samuel Hearne and James Cook. By the end of the century, George Vancouver had explored the northwest coast in detail.
What explorers searched for the Northwest Passage?
Martin Frobisher, Henry Hudson, and James Cook searched icy northern waters for it, in vain. In May 1845 a celebrated British explorer and naval officer, Sir John Franklin, took up the quest to find a route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Arctic waters.
Who made the Northwest Passage?
An ice-bound northern route was discovered in 1850 by the Irish explorer Robert McClure. Scotsman John Rae explored a more southerly area in 1854 through which Norwegian Roald Amundsen found a route, making the first complete passage in 1903–1906.
Why were many European explorers searching for a Northwest Passage to Asia?
The Northwest Passage was long sought by European explorers to shorten the distance and time that merchant ships needed to travel from Europe to Asia. Most explorers attempted to locate a sea channel in the Arctic waters to the north of Canada.
Did John Franklin find the Northwest Passage?
Franklin himself never proved the existence of the Northwest Passage, but a small party from his expedition may have reached Simpson Strait, which connected with the western coastal waters previously visited by Franklin.
Did Lewis and Clark find the Northwest Passage?
Lewis and Clark may not have discovered a direct Northwest Passage, but they did forge a path to the Pacific that would inspire thousands of others to settle in the northwestern United States in the century to follow.
Who was the first explorer to find Northwest Passage?
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was the first man who successfully navigated the North-West Passage by boat, on a voyage that lasted from 1903 to 1906. Roald Amundsen, from Norway, is one of the world's most famous polar explorers.
Which French and Dutch explorers searched for the Northwest Passage?
Which French and Dutch explorers tried to find the Northwest Passage? The Dutch explorer, Henry Hudson, and French explorers, Giovanni da Verrazano and Jacques Cartier, were sent in search of the Northwest Passage.
Why were the many searches for a Northwest Passage significant?
Why were the many searches for a Northwest Passage significant? They raised European interest in North America. For which country did Jacques Cartier claim land during his two trips to Canada in 1534 and 1535?
Which French and Dutch explorers searched for the Northwest Passage?
Which French and Dutch explorers tried to find the Northwest Passage? The Dutch explorer, Henry Hudson, and French explorers, Giovanni da Verrazano and Jacques Cartier, were sent in search of the Northwest Passage.
Who discovered the Northeast Passage?
The first confirmed complete passage, from west to east, was made by the Finland-Swedish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld, with the Swedish ship Vega 1878–79 backed by the royal funding of king Oscar II of Sweden.
Why were the many searches for a Northwest Passage significant?
Why were the many searches for a Northwest Passage significant? They raised European interest in North America. For which country did Jacques Cartier claim land during his two trips to Canada in 1534 and 1535?
Why was the Northwest Passage important?
In past centuries, many Europeans believed that the Northwest Passage, if discovered, would provide a helpful trade route that would cut down the t...
Who were the explorers of the Northwest Passage?
Many expeditions searched for the Northwest Passage without success. Some of the men who led these expeditions included John Cabot, Jacques Cartier...
Where is the Northwest Passage?
The Northwest Passage is located in Arctic Ocean to the north of Canada. It is a treacherous shortcut between Europe and East Asia that is rarely u...
Who discovered the Northwest Passage?
Roald Amundsen is usually credited with the discovery of a fully ocean-bound path through the Northwest Passage. He was a Norwegian sailor who unde...
What is the Northwest Passage?
The Northwest Passage is a path that ships can take to navigate the Canadian Arctic archipelago. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Despi...
Who Discovered the Northwest Passage?
For centuries, many European nations hoped and speculated that a Northwest Passage might exist, since its existence would have been highly advantageous for European economies.
John Cabot, 1497
As early as the 11th century, Vikings were traveling to North America. Some had contact with Indigenous groups, including the Inuit. However, much of the Vikings' experiences are unrecorded today, so it is unclear if any of them found or attempted to find the Northwest Passage.
Jacques Cartier, 1534-1542
While Cabot sailed for England (despite being Italian), the next major expedition to search for the Northwest Passage was French in origin. Jacques Cartier traveled to North America three times in eight years in an attempt to find a faster shipping route to Asia. He was most likely the first European to explore the St.
Martin Frobisher, 1576-1578
For Europeans in the sixteenth century, the answer to the question ''what does the Northwest Passage mean?'' was ''wealth.'' Explorers believed that they would find a shortcut to gold, spices, and other riches. Returning home after finding the passage would have been seen as an act of heroism.
What was the prize awarded to the British for finding the Northwest Passage?
Abandoned Hudson (britannica.com) The British were becoming frustrated by failing attempts and declared a £20,000 prize to anyone who discovered a northwest passage. This continued to stimulate and encourage future expeditions. Most of the attempts to find the Passage travelled west, departing from Europe.
What is the mystery of the Northwest Passage?
The Mystery of the Northwest Passage: Past and Present Explorers. The Northwest Passage is one of Canada’s most exciting chapters of discovery, history and exploration. The Northwest Passage is a sea corridor connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Canada’s Arctic Archipelago islands and along the northern-most coast of North America.
What was the name of the ship that was rescued by an expedition travelling from the east?
McClure then travelled up the west coast and into the Bering Strait. Unfortunately, the ship became stuck in pack ice in the spring of 1853 and McClure and his crew were rescued by an expedition travelling from the east. McClure continued his journey by sled and became the first to transit the entire Northwest Passage.
Why did Europeans search for 300 years?
Europeans searched for 300 years to find a viable sea trade-route to Asia. Names of adventurers, like Henry Hudson and Sir John Franklin, are etched into the history of the Northwest Passage. The fascinating history has sparked an interest in travellers from around the world. Modern-day explorers are drawn to Canada’s High Arctic for ...
Where did Amundsen spend his winters?
They spent two winters (1903-04 and 1904-05) in what is now a community called Gjøa Haven.
Where did Roald go to winter?
They decided to winter here before they made the final journey back to Norway. Norway had recently gained independence from Sweden and had a new king, so Roald was excited to inform him of their success. Roald skied 800 km to Eagle City, Alaska.
Where to go on a narwhal safari?
Trips like Narwhal & Polar Bear Safari take you to the floe edge of Eclipse Sound, near the eastern gateway of the Northwest Passage. This region is filled with some of the most iconic wildlife in the Arctic, including migrating narwhal and roaming polar bears.
Who discovered the Northwest Passage?
The first recorded attempt to discover the Northwest Passage was the east–west voyage of John Cabot in 1497, sent by Henry VII in search of a direct route to the Orient. In 1524, Charles V sent Estêvão Gomes to find a northern Atlantic passage to the Spice Islands. An English expedition was launched in 1576 by Martin Frobisher, who took three trips west to what is now the Canadian Arctic in order to find the passage. Frobisher Bay, which he first charted, is named after him.
Where did the Northwest Passage originate?
Northern Pacific. 1765 globe by Guillaume Delisle, showing a fictional Northwest Passage. Most Northwest Passage expeditions originated in Europe or on the east coast of North America, seeking to traverse the Passage in the westbound direction.
How far did Amundsen ski?
After completing the Northwest Passage portion of this trip and having anchored near Herschel Island, Amundsen skied 800 kilometres (500 mi) to the city of Eagle, Alaska. He sent a telegram announcing his success and skied the return 800 kilometres (500 mi) to rejoin his companions.
What is the largest cruise ship in the Northwest Passage?
The largest passenger ship to navigate the Northwest Passage was the cruise liner Crystal Serenity of gross tonnage 69,000. Starting on August 10, 2016, the ship sailed from Vancouver to New York City with 1,500 passengers and crew, taking 28 days.
What was the first cargo ship to sail through the Northwest Passage?
The first commercial cargo ship to have sailed through the Northwest Passage was SS Manhattan in August 1969. SS Manhattan , of 115,000 deadweight tonnage, was the largest commercial vessel ever to navigate the Northwest Passage.
What was the purpose of the Northwest Passage?
The Northwest Passage represented a new route to the established trading nations of Asia .
What is the NWP?
The Northwest Passage ( NWP) is the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The eastern route along the Arctic coasts of Norway and Siberia is accordingly called the Northeast Passage (NEP).
