What Is The Northwest Passage?

The Northwest Passage is a long sought after route from the North shores of North America that connects the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. The obstacles to establishing an ocean highway through this northwest passage are formidable.

This is because the Arctic Ocean, which lies north of Canada and Alaska, is nearly completely covered by a massive, many-foot-thick ice pack. Only near the northern shores is there some open water during the summer. But much of the route is heavily choked with ice even during the more favorable part of the year, becoming plugged by massive ice floes that stream in from the permanent ice pack to the northwest. As a result, never had a large commercial vessel navigated the entire northwest passage. , In September 1969, the SS Manhattan churned through hundreds of miles of heavy Arctic ice finally to negotiate the passage. But it was not an easy trip. The SS Manhattan became stuck in the ice at least six times, and needed to be freed by an accompanying Canadian icebreaker. It was even necessary to turn back after making an attempt to break through one major strait.