Why Explorers Searched for a New Route

During the Age of Exploration, European nations were eager to find faster and safer trade routes to Asia. Spices, silk, tea, and other valuable goods traveled slowly along overland routes or required long voyages around Africa or South America. Because of this, explorers wondered if a shorter water route existed across the northern part of North America. This route became known as the Northwest Passage—a hoped-for shortcut that would allow ships to sail from the Atlantic Ocean directly to the Pacific. Although mapmakers guessed such a route might exist, no one knew if ships could survive the icy waters of the far north.

The Earliest Attempts

In the late 1400s and early 1500s, explorers from England, France, and the Netherlands began searching the northern seas. One of the earliest was John Cabot, an Italian sailing for England, who reached the coast of present-day Canada in 1497. He did not find a passage, but his voyage encouraged others to continue the search. Later explorers, including Jacques Cartier of France, traveled up the St. Lawrence River, hoping it might lead across the continent. Each journey revealed more about North America’s geography, but the true Northwest Passage remained out of reach.

French explorer Jacques Cartier thought the Northwest Passage lay just beyond the rapids of the St. Lawrence River

Harsh Conditions and Dangerous Journeys

The search for the Northwest Passage proved extremely difficult. Northern waters were filled with thick sea ice, freezing winds, and long periods of darkness. The Arctic climate made navigation dangerous, and many ships became trapped in the ice. Explorers such as Henry Hudson sailed far into the northern seas in the early 1600s, reaching the massive bay now named after him—Hudson Bay. Although Hudson believed he was close to finding the Passage, his ship was stranded, and his crew eventually mutinied. Many expeditions ended in failure, hardship, or disaster, yet nations continued funding voyages in hopes of discovering a route that could bring incredible wealth.

New Discoveries and the Long Search

Despite frequent disappointment, explorers learned a great deal about the Arctic during their travels. They mapped coastlines, studied wildlife, and made contact with Indigenous groups, including the Inuit, who had long lived in the region. In the 1700s and 1800s, explorers such as James Cook and later Sir John Franklin continued the search. Franklin’s expedition became one of the most tragic, as both ships and all 129 crew members were lost in the Arctic ice. Even though these voyages did not find an easy sea route, they provided valuable information about the northern world.

The Passage Is Finally Found

It was not until the early 1900s that Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen successfully traveled through the entire Northwest Passage. However, the journey took three years and required a small ship that could travel close to shore to avoid thick ice. This proved that although the Passage existed, it was not practical for large trading ships. Today, the Northwest Passage can sometimes be crossed due to melting sea ice, but it remains a difficult and unpredictable route.

Impact and Legacy

The centuries-long search for the Northwest Passage had a major impact on world history. It led to the exploration and mapping of northern Canada and Alaska, increased contact between European explorers and Indigenous peoples, and expanded scientific knowledge of the Arctic. Although explorers never found the easy shortcut they dreamed of, their journeys opened new regions to the world and influenced trade, colonization, and global geography during the Age of Exploration.

Discussion Questions

1. Why did European nations want to find the Northwest Passage?
2. What dangers did explorers face while searching for the Passage?
3. Why do you think so many nations were willing to risk dangerous voyages for this route?
4. How did the search for the Northwest Passage change the world?

Glossary

• Northwest Passage – A water route through the Arctic from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
• Mutiny – When a crew rebels against its captain or leader.
• Arctic – The cold northern region of Earth around the North Pole.
• Indigenous – The original people living in a region before outside settlers arrive.
• Navigation – The science of planning and guiding a ship’s route.