The Northwest Passage

Cristoforo Colombo, an Adventurer born in Genova, Italy, convinced Isabelle I, Queen of Castille towards the end of the Fifteenth Century to finance a maritime expedition aiming to prove that it is possible to reach Asia and its riches faster and easier by sailing westward by sea rather than by slogging eastward on foot.  

When, on his first transatlantic voyage in 1492, Christopher Columbus stumbled into what we today call San Salvador Island in the Bahamas, he was convinced that the huge land mass to the west of it (Florida) was Asia. But by 1502, during his fourth voyage, he seemed to have changed his mind because he began to search feverishly for a passage to Asia across “his” America. He failed and died in 1506.

The first European to see and name the Pacific Oceant was Vasco Nuñez de Balboa in 1513.  He reached it by crossing the Panamanian Isthmus by land.

The passage by sea was found in 1520 close to the southern tip of the South American continent by Ferdinando Magellan. Unfortunately, the “Straight of Magellan” was very narrow, difficult to navigate, and too far south for the European countries that wanted nearer, cheaper, shorter, faster, shipping options.

Before 1914 (the Panama Canal opened for traffic officially on August 15, 1914) the Northwest Passage from Baffin Bay to Banks Island appeared to be the best solution for Europe’s quest for short, quick and easy access to Asia’s riches and during the period from 1576 to 1845 four expeditions were organized to cross it:

All four failed.

They knew about the existence of the Passage in general terms, but all underestimated how shallow it was, how long their voyage would last, how cold the Arctic climate is, how choking Arctic Ice can be and how long it lasts, how inaccurate their maps were, how inadequate their instruments and technical knowledge was and how impractical their ships were for use in the Arctic.

Finally, seven Norwegians (Roald Amundsen and a crew of six) succeeded in crossing the Arctic Ocean on board a wooden boat about 70 feet long.  It took them three years (1903 – 1906).

Watch Amundsen’s journey

“Trapped in in Arctic Ice for 1000 days’

THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE TODAY

In spite of climate warming,  though navigable by modern ships, the Northwest Passage remains a dangerous waterway, especially in winter. Thus, it is not favoured by commercial shipping. The Arctic Ocean is cold, icy, stormy, foggy, unpredictable and very complicated, especially for ships.

And the Northwest Passage is not just about ships. As the ice melts, its geopolitical importance increases, making of the area one of the most strategically sensitive places in the world.

Canada claims the Northwest Passage as internal waters. This empowers it to control shipping, enforce laws and restrict access – all rights vital for its national security and indigenous rights. The country’s northern frontier has been firmly established through indigenous occupation since prehistoric times, British exploration and trade, the Hudson Bay company’s control beginning in 1670, and formal Canadian governance after Confederation in 1870.

Canada asserted control over the arctic islands in the early 20^th century. The US and some European countries argue that the Northwest Passage is an international strait. This would allow free passage for all ships including military vessels. Such an arrangement would have catastrophic consequences on Canadian Sovereignty.