Is the Northwest Passage currently open?
Warning that the NASA satellite images suggested that the Arctic had entered a “death spiral” caused by climate change, Professor Mark Serreze, a sea ice specialist at the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said: “The passages are open.
What is the name of the cruise ship that went through the Northwest Passage?
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten, a cargo, ferry and cruise company from Norway, designed MS Roald Amundsen. The boat, which is named after Norway’s famed polar explorer, completed a more than 3,000-nautical-mile voyage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, ending in Nome, Alaska, on Sept. 10. Nearly 500 people were on board.
Can you travel the Northwest Passage?
The Northwest Passage is still inaccessible for most of the year, and only a few expedition companies offer a full Northwest Passage crossing attempt in the summer. Traveling through the Northwest Passage is only for the most adventurous explorers and offers a unique experience.
What is the route of the Northwest Passage?
Where Is the Northwest Passage? The Northwest Passage spans roughly 900 miles from the North Atlantic north of Canada’s Baffin Island in the east to the Beaufort Sea north of the U.S. state of Alaska in the west. It’s located entirely within the Arctic Circle, less than 1,200 miles from the North [JR1] .
How long does it take to sail the Northwest Passage?
The timing The full transit is only navigable during a four- to six-week window from around the second week of August – in a good year.
Can you take a boat through the Northwest Passage?
The boat. Most boats planning a full passage attempt an east-to-west navigation via the “Amundsen route”, through the Lancaster Sound, then eventually south of King William Island. This itinerary allows for incredible natural experiences paired with historical sights – with much to see on the way back if ice closes in.
How many people have sailed the North West Passage?
The North West Passage has been described as the Everest of sailing. Since Roald Amundsen’s successful transit in 1903-1906, a total of only 94 sailing boats have been able to follow his example. For every sailor who has sailed the North West Passage, 12 climbers have scaled the highest mountain in the world.
Where does the Northwest Passage cruise take place?
The 17-day Northwest Passage: Epic High Arctic voyage operates round-trip via charter flights from Toronto, Canada. Embark the ship in Resolute, Canada, cruise south along western Greenland and disembark in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. The Arctic expedition begins in Toronto.
When did Canada stop using the Northwest Passage?
On April 9, 2006, Canada declared that its military will no longer refer to this Arctic Ocean region as “Northwest Passage”, but as “Canadian Internal Waters”. On July 9, 2007, Canada’s Prime Minister announced the establishment of a deep-water port in the region.
When did the Polar Sea transit the Arctic Passage?
When (eventually) the passage’s waters during summer become completely free of ice, they would allow Arctic transition of supertankers – too big to pass through Panama Canal and otherwise navigating around South America (through the Strait of Magellan ). In 1985, the USCG icebreaker Polar Sea transited the passage from Greenland to Alaska.
What did the Vikings call the Northwest Passage?
All the Arctic sea waterways that separate these islands are known as “Northwest Passages” and also as “Northwestern Passages”. As result of the Vikings’ westward explorations, hunting expeditions and Greenland settlements, they sailed west and north reaching the islands Ellesmere, Skraeling and Ruin, trading here with the Inuit people.