Where Is the Northwest Passage? Discover Its Location and Importance

The Northwest Passage is a fabled sea route through the Canadian Arctic that connects the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean through an archipelago of islands. Throughout history, many have wondered, “Where is the Northwest Passage?”

Located approximately 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the Canadian High Arctic, the Northwest Passage spans approximately 900 miles east to west from the Davis Strait to the Beaufort Sea in Alaska. It consists of a series of channels through numerous islands that freeze with ice during winter, making navigation challenging.

In this article, I examine the location of the Northwest Passage and its importance today and throughout history.

Are you interested in exploring the Northwest Passage? At Polar Escapes, we are experts in travel to the Northwest Passage and have a wealth of first-hand experience to help you plan your trip. Here you can search our Northwest Passage Cruises and Tours.

Northwest Passage Map

A modern-day map showing the main routes through the Northwest Passage

A Quick Introduction to the Northwest Passage

• European explorers sought the Northwest Passage for centuries as a possible shorter trade route to Asia but were met with challenging navigation due to the climate and sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.
• In 1854, Robert McClure’s first successful transit, partly by ship but mainly by sledge, over the sea ice proved the existence of the Northwest Passage.
• In 1906, Norweigan explorer Roald Amundsen made the first successful crossing of the Northwest Passage from East to West on his ship, Gjoa.
• Today, climate change is reducing the sea ice and opening up the Northwest Passage for shipping routes. These could save time and fuel but raise concerns about environmental impacts and sovereignty issues.
• Technology makes it easier for vessels to transit the Northwest Passage, especially in summer, but ice conditions are still unpredictable.
• The Northwest Passage is subject to an ongoing sovereignty dispute, with Canada claiming the waters as internal and other countries, such as the USA, claiming them as international waters.
• Exploring the Northwest Passage on an expedition cruise during the summer between late July and September is possible.

Northwest Passage Location and Geography

Geographically, the Northwest Passage is a series of multiple sea routes and deep channels connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It runs through the Canadian High Arctic along the northern coast of North America. The entire Passage is above the Arctic Circle, approximately 1200 miles from the North Pole.   

The region consists of an archipelago of around 36,000 islands spread over a vast area of 1.4 million km2. It features a myriad of wide straits and narrow channels that become choked with ice during the harsh winters.

There are 94 major islands, the largest of which are Baffin Island, Devon Island, Somerset Island, Banks Island, Victoria Island, and Ellesmere Island. There are countless smaller islands and skerries, including King William Island, Cornwallis Island, and Prince Leopold Island.

The Canadian archipelago is one of the largest land areas in the Arctic, second only to Greenland, which is predominantly covered by an ice cap.

The Northwest Passage begins in Baffin Bay off the west coast of Greenland. Lancaster Sound marks the eastern entrance between Baffin Island and Devon Island.

The western entrance is accessed from the Beaufort Sea, and ships pass between the Canadian mainland and Banks Island. The Northwest Passage has seven main shipping routes. Ships must navigate icebergs and ice floes throughout their transit of the Passage.

While most of the Northwest Passage is pure wilderness, there are numerous Inuit settlements, and 11 islands are inhabited. Pond Inlet on the northern tip of Baffin Island is home to 1,555 people, while Gris Fjord on Ellesmere Island is home to just 144 people.

Towns are popular stopping points for expedition cruise ships that pass through the Passage, where guests can learn about Inuit culture and life in the High Arctic.

The complex geography and sea ice make navigating the Northwest Passage challenging. However, in our experience, it is one of Earth’s best expedition cruising destinations.  

Who owns the Northwest Passage?

Canada owns the Northwest Passage, although it has been subject to an ongoing geopolitical debate on sovereignty and navigation rights since 1880. At the heart of the debate is whether the Passage is part of Canada’s internal waters or an international strait open to foreign ships.

Canada claims the North West Passage as part of its internal waters, saying it has sovereignty over the route and the surrounding Canadian Arctic Archipelago. This is based on old usage by Indigenous peoples, like the Inuit and Canadian settlements and infrastructure in the area.

The Canadian government says it has the right to regulate navigation and enforce environmental rules to protect the fragile Arctic environment.

However, other countries, particularly the U.S., see the Northwest Passage as an international strait. This argument says the Passage should be open to free navigation under international law like other critical global shipping routes. The U.S. and other nations argue that the Northwest Passage is important and could be a trade route, so it should be in international waters.

The 1988 Arctic Co-operation Agreement tried to address some of these issues, with the U.S. agreeing to ask Canada’s permission before sending icebreakers through the Passage. However, the sovereignty debate continues, and clear international agreements are needed to manage this increasingly used sea route.

Why is the Northwest Passage Important?

The Northwest Passage is as important today as it was over 400 years ago when explorers searched for a maritime route between North America and Asia, which was the driving force for its exploration.

Here are the reasons why the Northwest Passage is important:

• The Northwest Passage is a valuable shipping trade route which offers a shortcut to Asia from traditional routes like the Panama Canal.
• A ship passing through the Northwest Passage rather than the Panama Canal will save over 7,000 km on its route, representing huge time and money savings.
• Currently, ships rarely use the Northwest Passage due to the challenging ice conditions that occur most of the year.
• The area is an essential habitat for wildlife and biodiversity. Polar bears, narwhals, bowhead whales, and walruses thrive in the waters.  

As climate change affects Arctic sea ice, more ships will likely transit the Northwest Passage. While an increase in shipping would significantly increase the Passage’s economic potential, there are many environmental concerns.

Historical Significance

The historical significance of the Northwest Passage cannot be overstated. For over three centuries, explorers, including John Cabot, Captain James Cook, and Sir John Franklin, set out to try to discover a maritime route between North America and Asia. Driven by the promise of new trade and the allure of the unknown, many explorers set out and never returned.

One of the most famous stories is Franklin’s ill-fated expedition of 1845, which resulted in the loss of all men and his two ships, the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, in the Victoria Strait. It’s a testament to how unforgiving conditions in the Northwest Passage can be.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen sailed the first ship, the Gjoa, through the Northwest Passage, sealing his name in the polar history books.

Archaeological evidence shows that the Inuit lived in the Canadian Arctic for over 12,000 years before European explorers arrived. The remains of houses built from whalebone by the Thule people over 500 years ago can still be seen today.

For a complete account of the history and discovery of the Northwest Passage, please see our article Northwest Passage Explorers and Famous Expeditions.

How Is Climate Change Affecting The Northwest Passage?

Climate change has dramatically impacted the Northwest Passage as the Arctic warms, with a 32% reduction in Arctic sea ice since the 1960s. In the summer of 2007, the Passage became ice-free for the first time in recorded history.

Here are the main ways climate change is affecting the Northwest Passage:

• As Arctic temperatures rise, sea ice melts at an accelerated rate. Less ice means the Northwest Passage has become more navigable by ships.
• With less ice, the Northwest Passage, which was blocked all year round at one time, is now open for longer periods, allowing more potential use.
• Less ice also has increased interest in shipping and natural resource extraction as new areas become accessible in Arctic waters.
• Human activity has increased environmental risks. Oil spills or shipping accidents could have disastrous effects on the wildlife of the Northwest Passage.  
• Climate change has caused unpredictable changes to sea ice conditions. Changing weather patterns can cause ice to shift and block different parts of the route to ships.
• As the Northwest Passage becomes more accessible, geopolitical tensions increase, as other countries, such as the USA and Russia, want access.

Wildlife and the Ecosystem of the Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage supports a fragile Arctic ecosystem found nowhere else on Earth, including marine life, birds, and land animals. Most wildlife migrates to Canada’s Arctic archipelago during the warmer summer, including birds such as auks and guillemots and marine creatures such as beluga and bowhead whales.

Wildlife in the Northwest Passage has adapted to survive its sub-zero conditions throughout the long, harsh winters. Arctic foxes and hares, polar bears, and Musk oxen all feature thick fur to survive the frigid conditions at the peak of the winter months.

Canada’s Arctic is home to two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population, estimated at around 26,000. Polar bears migrate north from Hudson Bay as the sea ice forms during winter. They are often spotted in the Northwest Passage close to Lancaster Sound as they follow the migration pattern of beluga whales.

As the Northwest Passage becomes busier with human activities such as tourism and shipping, it is essential to ensure conservation protects and safeguards the fragile ecosystem.

Initiatives like the designation of Lancaster Sound as a national marine conservation area aim to protect the region’s unique biodiversity.

To learn more about the species of the Northwest Passage, please see our Northwest Passage Wildlife Guide.

Exploring the Northwest Passage Today

Photo Credit: AE / Renato Graniere

Much has changed in over a century since Roald Amundsen first transited the Northwest Passage. Today advances in shipbuilding, maritime technology, and satellite imaging to produce accurate ice charts make sailing the Northwest Passage much safer than it was 100 years ago. However, it is still considered a challenging route due to the shifting ice and weather conditions.

Exploring the Northwest Passage on an expedition cruise ship between late July and September each year is possible. In our experience, it is one of the most captivating places in the Arctic due to its history, austere landscapes, and abundant wildlife.

To discover more, please see our guide, How To Visit The Northwest Passage, which covers the best time to go, what you will see, and where to visit.

Northwest Passage FAQs

Has the Northwest Passage Ever been found?

The Northwest Passage was founded in 1854 by Robert McClure, who was the first to transit it using ship and sledge, thus proving a northern sea route existed as an open waterway between the Arctic and Pacific Oceans.

Before McClure discovered the Passage, the belief existed as early as the 1400s, when explorers like John Cabot and Henry Hudson sought to prove such a route existed between the North Atlantic Ocean to the North Pacific across northern Canada.

Can you sail through the Northwest Passage?

Sailing through the Northwest Passage during the summer between July and September is possible. The easiest way to sail the entire length is on an expedition cruise. In recent years, sailing yachts have navigated the whole Passage, and a handful of expedition cruise ships make the journey each year.

Do people live in the Northwest Passage?

The population of the Northwest Passage is estimated to be around 36,000, who live in small towns and hamlets throughout the territory. Eleven of the islands in the Northwest Passage are inhabited. Baffin Island is the most populated island, with a population of 13,039 people. The largest settlement is Iqaluit, with a population of 7,429. It is one of the least densely populated places on Earth.

What was Sir John Franklin’s expedition known for?

Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition is famous for disappearing on its journey to find the Northwest Passage and for the extensive and costly search that followed. The fateful expedition resulted in the disappearance of two ships, the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, and all of the crew. His expedition led McClure to discover the Northwest Passage five years later.  

Who was the first person to sail the entire Northwest Passage?

Roald Amundsen was the first to navigate the entire Northwest Passage by ship between 1903 and 1906, setting out from Oslo, Norway, and reaching Nome, Alaska.