Westward from the Davis Strait, 'tis there 'twas said to lie The sea-route to the Orient, for which so many died Seeking gold and glory, leaving weathered, broken bones And a long-forgotten lonely cairn of stones Three centuries thereafter, I take passage overland In the footsteps of brave Kelsey, where his Sea of Flowers began Watching cities rise before me, then behind me sink again This tardiest explorer, driving hard across the plain And through the night, behind the wheel, the mileage clicking west I think upon Mackenzie, David Thompson and the rest Who cracked the mountain ramparts and did show a path for me To race the roaring Fraser to the sea How then am I so different from the first men through this way? Like them, I left a settled life, I threw it all away To seek a Northwest Passage at the call of many men To find there but the road back home again Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage And make a Northwest Passage to the sea
and today someone is looking to trace a passage to Mars and in 300 years someone else will be saying something similar to these lines ... been this way since the dawn of man and will continue so til no man is left standing...
I think Franklin's and other expeditions before that were what we call siege technique used in mountaineering while Amundsen used Alpine style technique in all his expeditions. Coupled with his readiness to learn and accept local techniques ensured that he survived and became successful in all the two poles and in NW passage.
I don't believe that term is used, but I get the concept. I think of it more as "brute force and throw enough resources into it, and it'll happen". This versus Amundsen's more studied and respectful (of nature, and the Inuit) approach. Brains usually wins over Brawn.
@@Geodiode I feel like a (qualified) defense of Franklin is not out of order here: We know very little of how Franklin (or Crozier, after his early death) interacted with the Netsilik Inuit, and even that only through fragmentary Inuit testimony collected by search parties looking for Franklin, which at least indicates that Franklin's officers *did* interact with them and seek their help on a number of occasions. It's also true that Amundsen, a great admirer and close student of Franklin, had the great advantages of a half century of much greater knowledge of the Passage, and significantly warmer summers in 1903-06 than Franklin had faced. Amundsen was unquestionably the greater, more skillful, and savvier polar explorer; but in part, he stood so tall because he stood on the shoulders of many polar explorers before him - not least, Sir John Franklin.
@@Geodiode (It is also worth noting that Amundsen did not *need* the help of the Netsilik of KWI to survive that part of the Passage; he had plenty of food for his small party to make it through, but deliberately chose to stay on King William Island for two years to learn as much as possible from the Inuit, to gain the skills needed for what he hoped would be his attempt on the North Pole. Instead, he ended up using them to beat Scott to the South Pole!)
As an Inuk from Nunavut, I was blessed to be directly connected to the blood line of those who walked with the last of the Whalers in the Roes welcome sound, George comer and John Murray specifically - the Photos collected by Geraldine Moodie (wife of General Douglas Moodie - RCNWMP) and George Comer respectively depict my Grandfather Joe Curley's adoptive parents... He is the third Child adopted my Angutimmarik and Shoofly, Jon Ell, Laurent Pameolik, and Joe Qajarjuaq Curley (named for his Curley Hair) there is a misconception that Harry Tassiuk and Angutimmarik are the same person, who historically aided the American Whaler George Comer, But Angutimmarik "Scotch Tom" was the aid of the Scottish Whaler John Murray and was the true Husband of Shoofly "Nivisannaaq" the elaboratley photographed and famous model used by Geraldine and George Both in their now Famous Photos. I am currently working on an; Inuit History Course - and would love to use the very well done piece of Work in my Teachings.
Thanks so much Brian for that story. Wonderful to hear! Did I use any of the mentioned photos in this video? And yes you're welcome to show this video in its original form on TH-cam to anyone you need to in your teachings.
I have a family connectoin to the Franklin Expediton. The first mate of the HMS Terror was Frederick John Hornby who was a distant cousin of mine through my ancestral connection to British nobility. A spoon belonging to him was recovered from the shipwrecks. My great uncle Cecil a British orphan came to Canada and married a Metis woman named Rose Vandal who was the 2nd gret granddaughter of Henry Munro Fisher Jr. who was a fur trader that employed John Beads who was one of the Metis guides of John Rae's expedition which found the fate of the Franklin expedition at the boat site. I am greatful fo the Inuit guardians of Gjoa Haven who protect the resting places of the two ships.
I read in Dan Simmons "The Terror" that the Inuit regarded King William Island as a place of death, not just because it was where most of Franklin's crew probably perished, but that the location of it meant that the climate was particularly bad
Wonderful place to "live" in the geography of this earth. I am a geologist and geographer, and I felt like I was in heaven following you. Although I am no longer young, I travelled with my soul with you. Excellent site, congratulations from the bottom of my heart Geodiode!
Great engaging video. Only my first time realizing the tragic fate of Henry Hudson and his son, of whom the Hudson Bay and Hudson river is named after.
Amazing journey through the artic archipelago of northern Canada! Well explained video of all the attempts to find a way to reach Asia through the Northwest Passage!
What an interesting story. The early discovery of all of these places are so fascinating to learn about. Stuff like this is really helpful for Worldbuilding. Well done, Geodiode, I quite enjoyed this one!
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change, that lives within the means available and works co-operatively against common threats. Charles Darwin. Great account by you - I really enjoyed it. There are just some places on Earth that people should not go to unless they gain sufficient previous knowledge.
A very solid overview of the Northwest Passage, which somehow I missed until now! One small correction: The Ross Expedition of 1829-33 (at @16:30) was actually led by Sir *John* Ross, who had led the 1818 expedition. Sir James Ross, his nephew, was actually his second in command on the expedition. John would gain a knighthood out of the expedition; James, his step to post captain. James Ross would later lead famous expeditions of his own to both the Antarctic and Arctic - and this often leads to confusion with those of his uncle.
@@Geodiode No problem! It was right at @16:28, and you just said "Sir John nephew, James Clark Ross..." Again, though, they were *both* on the expedition. It was John that was in command, though.
A very interesting and enjoyable video about the search for the Northern Passage. As an Australian, I am happy that this was so problematic for explorers as otherwise our country would have become a French colony in 1788 instead of an English colonial settlement. La Perouse arrived only 3 days after Capt Arthur Phillip arrived in Botany Bay to establish NSW. He had been stuck in ice for many months after scouting for a NW Passage for France before heading to the Pacific. The English Government was 18yrs slow to act on Capt James Cook's claim of the Eastern Australian continent for England and only the loss of the Americas got them hurriedly moving with a first settlement fleet.
You're welcome. Fascinating account of the possible alternative history of Oz there. I didn't know the French were so close on the heels of the English
i don't know.... when i think of Australian history i think of the 1830's when Captain Franklin was sent to replace Gov Arthur who was managing affairs in Tasmania. During his stay Franklin met up with Crozier and Ross who were on their way to Antarctica on the Terror and Erebus. The same ships were later used on the disastrous Crozier and Franklin Arctic voyage... Arthur had been sent to Canada to act against the Francophone and other dissenters of the British oligarch ... being French Canadian with ancestors who survived that genocidal era i tend to think the English were pigs and would have slaughtered any uncivilized savage in the process of conquest and surpassing the Spanish as the next Empire of choice ... that's just me...
Thanks v much Zachary. Yes it was a difficult production to make. I had intended it to be only 15 minutes in duration, but there was simply too much story that had to be told.
As a naval officer I abhor the implication that the Royal Navy is a haven for cannibalism. It is well known that we now have the problem relatively under control, and that it is the R.A.F. who now suffer the largest casualties in this area. And what do you think the Argylls ate in Aden? Arabs? Yours etc. Captain B. J. Smethwick in a white wine sauce with shallots, mushrooms and garlic.
Although unlikely to return north again, I had the work privilege of stints in Nunavut, 2002 to 2012, including Gjoa Haven, and thus always an interest in history. Your video is an excellant summary of explorations. Also remembering the oral history of the Inuit.
Fantastic work with this one. As a geography enthusiast, I knew very little about this area or its history. I'm looking forward to more infamous geography vids!
No, sorry Spencer but by missing out the man who REALLY discovered the Northwest Passage , Geodiode has done Dr John Rae, and history, a serious disservice.
My GG….Grandfather was Captain John Davis. I have enjoyed getting to know the history of that region and what a difficult journey all of the explorers underwent.
And yet the Vikings were able to navigate the passage because with the medieval warming it was warmer than it is today. Trace evidence of Viking boat rivets and other artefacts have been found on either side of the passage.
I am in Halifax, N.S., on the eastern coast of Canada. I am organizing a " club" called Elderfun Ltd., to form a group of over "65's" to make a trip across Canada by rail, living on board some "sleeping" , and "dining" cars, to enjoy travelling at an enjoyable speed across this great country of ours. Tell me of your OPINION ! here ! John M. Hill
Wonderful documentary. A region I have often wondered about being a resident of Northern New England. I wish you had mentioned one of the earliest attempts to find the Northwest Passage by an English sea captain in 1577 as related in Samuel Bawlf's book, "The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake". He traveled from England, through Magellan's strait and up the western coast of America to the coast of Alaska before turning west on his famous voyage around the world.
@@Geodiode It was indeed secret but in Drake's journals and accounts of the voyage there is a curious gap when Drakes expedition was near Alaska. The book mentioned above, speculates that Drake spent the time looking for the west end of the northwest passage. You would need to read the book to get the full explanation.
Indeed. I'm happy to sit tight in the temperate latitudes. The Aleutian islands were so inhospitable in terms of weather that they were dismissed as a route to invading Japan in WW2. Too much fog meant the planes couldn't fly on most days.
Well covered history of the NW passage!😀 We should make a story of the discovery and connections across the North Atlantic from Scandinavia and the Greenlandic Coasts since 985 AD. There was "regular" summer traffic up along the coast into Baffin Bay until connection with the was lost somewhere around mid 15th century, until connection was lost with the settlements - and when finally returning 1731, no (or almost no) Scandinavians was anymore in Greenland.
That's becaue about 1000 years ago the global temperature was 1,5C higher. Unfortunatelly todays climate is much colder and there is no sign it would be returning back to these temperatures any time soon
@Forsberg - thanks! I'll be doing a video in this series on the North Atlantic over the ages, and sure, the Viking crossings will be addressed. Another video on the fascinating settlement of Greenland, later abandoned due to the cooling of the earth in the late medieval period to 1700s.
@@Geodiode Magnificient - As former PM and CEO of Greenland Survey, I can provide you with more sources and maybe a more varied view - The reason for the loss of connection is unknown. All suggestions are speculations, even some are based on indicia! The royal knarr ensuring yearly connections disappeared mid 14th century, making connections more random. The prolific and luxury market for walrus tusk disappeared in Europe from 1400 lowering the expected main Greenlandic income. Climate became harder causing less harvest and tougher times. Almost half the supply and commercial base in Scandinavia (the city of Bergen) was eliminated during the plague in 15th century, so seafarers was missing. Conflicts with inuits coming into Greenland from North around 1200 has been postulated, but no indicia do indicate violent conflicts between the agricultural and well organised society of norse farmers and sailors, and the unorganized semi-nomades of Inuitic hunters and gatherers. Trade has been done between Norse and Inuit all long the western coast the whole way to the North of Greenland in the period. An undated history from maybe 1400-1600 do tell about sailors lost in the ice, finding a dead Scandinavian in Inuit-dress, so maybe the Norse were assimilated with the nomadic Inuitic hunter-gatheres , that came into Greenland from north from around 1200 AD and moved southwards. So there is a lot to think about, and there is no one single reason to the loss of connection - However, in Europe the supremacy of Greenland was claimed almost undisputed since 900 by the Danish-Norwegian King during the period with no connection, and even up until today. During the Peace treaty in 1814. More starters can be found at e.g. www.quora.com/How-did-a-small-and-unassuming-country-like-Denmark-come-into-possession-of-Greenland/answers/208737100 www.quora.com/Who-is-indigenous-to-Greenland/answer/Henrik-Forsberg-11
When I was younger, I faced the prospect of a long bus ride. This being before the age of smartphones my only entertainment would be a book. I found a bookstore near a bus station and decided to getting the biggest book I could find, without looking at what it was about. It was a thick old book, The title was hardly discernable. The inside front cover had the name "Terror": It was a dramatized story of what could have happened to the crew of the HMS Erebor and Terror. It was totally enthralling and ever since then I've soaked up any news about what happened to them. The discovery of the wrecks a couple years ago was absolutely incredible. One day I'd love to get to England and visit the naval museum. Thanks for sharing this story.
I think there will definitely be new discoveries when they study the wrecks of the ships, but don't you think that they would have taken the logs with them? I find it unlikely that they would have left something as important as ships logs behind. Excellent video. Thank you for uploading!
Glad you liked the video. Yes it's likely the logs would have been taken with them (which begs the question, why haven't they been found on king William Island?) But it's likely that a copy would have been made of some key aspects of their journal, or some sort of notes left behind on the ship
It's the same as leaving notes in the cairns. You want to hope that you make it through, but if you don't then you want anyone who follows you to have some idea of what happened. The ships themselves are good places to do it, since you are trying to reduce weight before heading out. Also, you have some hope that it will become beached rather than sinking, or possibly discovered a few years later still trapped in the ice.
@@Geodiode Some accounts by Rae mention that the logbooks had been found by Inuits who gave them to their children to play with. Dunno if it's true, but plausible at the very least.
In fact, it was the RN rule to leave the log books on board ship when they were abandoned, intact, in orderly manner. Of course, we now know that at least some of the men re-manned the ships. And while it is possible that the log might have been removed by them later for deposit on land, it is thought that Terror might still hold the ship's log because Terror's circumstances seem to match Inuit testimony of a very sudden sinking, in which the crew were unable to bring much of anything off. It's also possible that there could be other documents or journals which could be enormously informative, too.
Very accurate work. Thank you. I travelled a lot in the artic for my work as photographer: baffin, ellesmere devon islands. Fascinated by the arctic gral!. Ciao from italy
I thank you for this wonderful video..I am booked on the Resolution for 7/22 voyage with National Geographic ..you gave me great insight for what I will be experiencing.....
Outstanding video. The 19th century attempts to find a northwest passage, in the face of common sense, and at great cost to human life, can be understood in the context of the muscular expansion of the British Empire, after it had defeated France and become the only sea power in the world.
Thanks very much for your very substantial, interesting, and exciting history ot the North-West-passage. I'd like to note however that you named it in German as the "Nordseeroute", which is at least a misleading word construction, since "Nordsee" means the open ocean between GB and Norway, which is simply a part of the Atlantic Ocean in its North-East. You should consider to rename it, maybe as "die schnelle nördliche (Route)" or otherwise. Yours, Elimar from Potsdam/Germany.
The cartography of nordwest Canadá was done by spanish, Bodega & Cuadra and Valdez, they shared It with english by a treat, Vancouver, whom should maintain the name of the Vancouver island as Bodega-Vancouver island but they did not done It. Anycase today we can find the names of Valdez City and Valdez port in north Canadá, also the Cuadra name near Vancouver..... But dont forget the original and magnificent cartography of West Canadá was done by the Spanish whom were the best along the centuries on these tasks.
After I made this video i realised i hadn't given the Spanish enough credit regarding the west coast. I also remember the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska. That ship was surely named after this same Valdez
Inuit didn't domesticate wolves. They brought their dogs with them when they came to the arctic some 2,000 years ago. 🙄 The pre-inuit Dorset culture also had dogs up here. There is no evidence they tied them to sleds tho.
If gold or silver had ever shown up, they'd have DRILLED a passage through it. Gotta give credit to the Inuit. They have the whole place to themselves! ❤🐺🐻
trudat - Prince Rupert and King Charles II knew what they were up to when the created Rupert's Land and the Hudson's Bay Company... the objective was not just furs, it included looking for mines and other treasures in the northlands where the Inuit, Innu, Cree, Dene and so many other non Europeans had lived from thousands of years. ... nothing new under the sun today... always someone trying to civilize the savages who fail to play be the civil code of whoever has control of the law at any given time...
Enjoyed this video. Have read several books by Ken McGoogan he seems to say the man who eat his boots, Franklin, was pretty much incompetent compared to John Rae We are booked on the Fram this August 2024 ending up in Cambridge Bay. Trying to glean as much info as I can before we go
Adventures and those with foresight and imagination would still see the challenge as a worthwhile venture. (Especially those whose lives are stagnant and meaningless)
i think the Amundsen claim of finally discovering ( mapping ) the waterway northwest passage was a bogus fact... by the early 1900's the Canadian Pacific railroad was a trading route that rendered a Northwest Passage obsolete and the CP had been active for nearly 20 years by then. Other railroads further south had connected the east American continent to the west Columbian continent for years before then... many early explorers died looking for the elusive northwest passage and the general story goes that no one was able to map it until Amundsen came along .... history is sometimes fixed by those who succeed above and beyond others...still a good topic full of potential legend such as the travels of Franklin and Parry who were operating in the early Morse code technology era when steam engines and rail roads were the New World Order.... in today's realm advanced tech such as that is kept on the military level and sometimes released on the public if investors can make billions with it...
Amundsen was of the type of wanting to "be the first", regardless of whether it had any usefulness commercially, and indeed by the turn of the 20th Century, the passage had little commercial value. But still he did it, and the voyage is well documented as being the first.
Very interesting indeed. However, the video passes over the best known route to the Indian region, discovered and explored first by Portuguese. Like the great Magellan, alas Magalhães, at the service of Spanish crown...
Yes you make a good point - I was aware of the Portuguese route since a child - Vasco da Gama, etc... and I mention this in my video on South Africa. I didn't known Magellan was Portuguese until I watched the new Amazon dramatisation about him! And Columbus was Italian!
I do have a question. What determines the violence of an eruption ? Is it a pent up pressure that finally breaks through the plug of rock that formed from previous eruptions? Or a heavier than usual tectonic displacement?
Thanks for your question. The strength of a volcanic eruption is primarily determined by factors such as magma composition, gas content, magma temperature, and the type of tectonic setting. Magma composition, especially the amount of silica, plays a crucial role; high-silica magma is more viscous, trapping gas and leading to more explosive eruptions. Conversely, low-silica magma flows more easily, usually resulting in less intense eruptions. Gas content, mainly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur gases, builds pressure within the magma chamber. When the magma ascends and the pressure decreases, these gases expand rapidly, driving explosive eruptions. Temperature also impacts viscosity; hotter magma is less viscous, allowing gas to escape more readily and often producing less violent eruptions. The tectonic setting, such as subduction zones, divergent boundaries, or hot spots, affects magma properties and eruption style. Subduction zones, for example, commonly produce explosive eruptions due to high water content and silica in the magma, while divergent boundaries and hot spots tend to create less explosive, effusive eruptions. In sum, a combination of high silica content, gas pressure, lower temperature, and specific tectonic settings contributes to more powerful and destructive volcanic eruptions.
The Canadian Govt claims it cannot provide adequate rescue/salvage/environmental protection for rhe sensitive ares for commercial shipping at this moment as there isn't anything out there but an ecosystem with sparse pockets of life that commercial shipping can destroy without adequate resources in place for problems. It's a non-ussue though because you can go through it by boat but pretty much need icebreakerz...
Interesting. Of course, if I was Canadian, then I'd feel irked about a certain other country that you share the world's longest border with, poking up there and claiming they have a right to pass through it. But really those lands belong, if anyone, to the Inuit, who were there before us whiteys.
Everybody gangsta till the Humid Subtropical theme starts playing in the middle of a video about the Arctic.
I'm impressed that you even noticed!
I know - frightening level of recall, or @yolron, have you been watching all my videos at least 10 times each?
Oh yes, another prediction of tropical weather overtaking arctic regions.
I’m scared
Shiiieeeet
I travelled through the NorthWest Passage, west to east, aboard the MV Simon Fraser in the summer of 2000. Enjoyed your video. 👍😎
Wow, that was pretty early in time! Must have been epic!
Westward from the Davis Strait, 'tis there 'twas said to lie
The sea-route to the Orient, for which so many died
Seeking gold and glory, leaving weathered, broken bones
And a long-forgotten lonely cairn of stones
Three centuries thereafter, I take passage overland
In the footsteps of brave Kelsey, where his Sea of Flowers began
Watching cities rise before me, then behind me sink again
This tardiest explorer, driving hard across the plain
And through the night, behind the wheel, the mileage clicking west
I think upon Mackenzie, David Thompson and the rest
Who cracked the mountain ramparts and did show a path for me
To race the roaring Fraser to the sea
How then am I so different from the first men through this way?
Like them, I left a settled life, I threw it all away
To seek a Northwest Passage at the call of many men
To find there but the road back home again
Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage
To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea
Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage
And make a Northwest Passage to the sea
Wow. NW Passage poetry. Author?
@@Geodiode Stan Rogers. It's his most famous work, and almost an unofficial Canadian national anthem. th-cam.com/video/fx3iK_KGy54/w-d-xo.html
@@Geodiode It's a song by Stan Rogers, a famous Canadian folk singer. It's worth a listen
How many times have I sung this
and today someone is looking to trace a passage to Mars and in 300 years someone else will be saying something similar to these lines ... been this way since the dawn of man and will continue so til no man is left standing...
Excellent video! Great use of maps showing the land, water, and routes (or not) though it.
Glad you liked it! Thank you!
I think Franklin's and other expeditions before that were what we call siege technique used in mountaineering while Amundsen used Alpine style technique in all his expeditions. Coupled with his readiness to learn and accept local techniques ensured that he survived and became successful in all the two poles and in NW passage.
I don't believe that term is used, but I get the concept. I think of it more as "brute force and throw enough resources into it, and it'll happen". This versus Amundsen's more studied and respectful (of nature, and the Inuit) approach.
Brains usually wins over Brawn.
@@Geodiode I feel like a (qualified) defense of Franklin is not out of order here: We know very little of how Franklin (or Crozier, after his early death) interacted with the Netsilik Inuit, and even that only through fragmentary Inuit testimony collected by search parties looking for Franklin, which at least indicates that Franklin's officers *did* interact with them and seek their help on a number of occasions. It's also true that Amundsen, a great admirer and close student of Franklin, had the great advantages of a half century of much greater knowledge of the Passage, and significantly warmer summers in 1903-06 than Franklin had faced. Amundsen was unquestionably the greater, more skillful, and savvier polar explorer; but in part, he stood so tall because he stood on the shoulders of many polar explorers before him - not least, Sir John Franklin.
@@Geodiode (It is also worth noting that Amundsen did not *need* the help of the Netsilik of KWI to survive that part of the Passage; he had plenty of food for his small party to make it through, but deliberately chose to stay on King William Island for two years to learn as much as possible from the Inuit, to gain the skills needed for what he hoped would be his attempt on the North Pole. Instead, he ended up using them to beat Scott to the South Pole!)
As an Inuk from Nunavut,
I was blessed to be directly connected to the blood line of those who walked with the last of the Whalers in the Roes welcome sound,
George comer and John Murray specifically -
the Photos collected by Geraldine Moodie (wife of General Douglas Moodie - RCNWMP) and George Comer respectively depict my Grandfather Joe Curley's adoptive parents...
He is the third Child adopted my Angutimmarik and Shoofly,
Jon Ell, Laurent Pameolik, and Joe Qajarjuaq Curley (named for his Curley Hair)
there is a misconception that Harry Tassiuk and Angutimmarik are the same person, who historically aided the American Whaler George Comer, But Angutimmarik "Scotch Tom" was the aid of the Scottish Whaler John Murray and was the true Husband of Shoofly "Nivisannaaq" the elaboratley photographed and famous model used by Geraldine and George Both in their now Famous Photos.
I am currently working on an; Inuit History Course - and would love to use the very well done piece of Work in my Teachings.
Thanks so much Brian for that story. Wonderful to hear! Did I use any of the mentioned photos in this video?
And yes you're welcome to show this video in its original form on TH-cam to anyone you need to in your teachings.
Not only do you know who you descend from, but you know their feats and histories, I wish I did the same, research is on order !
Interesting, What can You Tell me about the Lost Franklin Expedition?
They should rename NorthWest Territories to Inuk.
I have a family connectoin to the Franklin Expediton. The first mate of the HMS Terror was Frederick John Hornby who was a distant cousin of mine through my ancestral connection to British nobility. A spoon belonging to him was recovered from the shipwrecks. My great uncle Cecil a British orphan came to Canada and married a Metis woman named Rose Vandal who was the 2nd gret granddaughter of Henry Munro Fisher Jr. who was a fur trader that employed John Beads who was one of the Metis guides of John Rae's expedition which found the fate of the Franklin expedition at the boat site. I am greatful fo the Inuit guardians of Gjoa Haven who protect the resting places of the two ships.
even when watching that barren arctic land i feel unsettled, let alone to be there in the place of early explorers. brave people indeed
I read in Dan Simmons "The Terror" that the Inuit regarded King William Island as a place of death, not just because it was where most of Franklin's crew probably perished, but that the location of it meant that the climate was particularly bad
Wonderful place to "live" in the geography of this earth.
I am a geologist and geographer, and I felt like I was in heaven following you. Although I am no longer young, I travelled with my soul with you. Excellent site, congratulations from the bottom of my heart Geodiode!
Thanks!
Great engaging video. Only my first time realizing the tragic fate of Henry Hudson and his son, of whom the Hudson Bay and Hudson river is named after.
A very kick ass metal version of "Northwest Passage" is performed by Unleashed the Archers. Epic.
Though Stan rogers wrote and sung it originally
Great video. I really enjoyed the voyage graphics you made. Nice work 👍
Glad you enjoyed it! Appreciate the sentiment on the animated voyage graphics. I had to learn a new technique in Adobe to do those
Amazing journey through the artic archipelago of northern Canada! Well explained video of all the attempts to find a way to reach Asia through the Northwest Passage!
Thanks a ton!
isn't europe already on the Asia continent
yes extremely clearly explained with right information and great narration
Amazing video on the northwest passage. Thanks for all your efforts. I really liked the graphic images of each journey
Many thanks! Yes I spent some time developing that animation method. Glad it's appreciated!
Nicely done, with a great story and colorfully scenery's 🎨🙋🇨🇦
Thanks v much Christian! And thanks for the sub!
What an interesting story. The early discovery of all of these places are so fascinating to learn about. Stuff like this is really helpful for Worldbuilding. Well done, Geodiode, I quite enjoyed this one!
Glad you enjoyed it - I see you came from the initial promo I did for the Worldbuilding community :)
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change, that lives within the means available and works co-operatively against common threats.
Charles Darwin.
Great account by you - I really enjoyed it.
There are just some places on Earth that people should not go to unless they gain sufficient previous knowledge.
This is a great summary. The maps and other visuals are great. Thank you
A very solid overview of the Northwest Passage, which somehow I missed until now! One small correction: The Ross Expedition of 1829-33 (at @16:30) was actually led by Sir *John* Ross, who had led the 1818 expedition. Sir James Ross, his nephew, was actually his second in command on the expedition. John would gain a knighthood out of the expedition; James, his step to post captain. James Ross would later lead famous expeditions of his own to both the Antarctic and Arctic - and this often leads to confusion with those of his uncle.
Glad you enjoyed it. I was aware of the two Ross's, but I mixed them up? I'd have to review the tape when I get a moment.
@@Geodiode No problem! It was right at @16:28, and you just said "Sir John nephew, James Clark Ross..." Again, though, they were *both* on the expedition. It was John that was in command, though.
I can’t imagine the conditions living on a ship for THREE winters in that desolate wilderness.
A very interesting and enjoyable video about the search for the Northern Passage. As an Australian, I am happy that this was so problematic for explorers as otherwise our country would have become a French colony in 1788 instead of an English colonial settlement. La Perouse arrived only 3 days after Capt Arthur Phillip arrived in Botany Bay to establish NSW. He had been stuck in ice for many months after scouting for a NW Passage for France before heading to the Pacific. The English Government was 18yrs slow to act on Capt James Cook's claim of the Eastern Australian continent for England and only the loss of the Americas got them hurriedly moving with a first settlement fleet.
You're welcome. Fascinating account of the possible alternative history of Oz there. I didn't know the French were so close on the heels of the English
i don't know.... when i think of Australian history i think of the 1830's when Captain Franklin was sent to replace Gov Arthur who was managing affairs in Tasmania. During his stay Franklin met up with Crozier and Ross who were on their way to Antarctica on the Terror and Erebus. The same ships were later used on the disastrous Crozier and Franklin Arctic voyage... Arthur had been sent to Canada to act against the Francophone and other dissenters of the British oligarch ... being French Canadian with ancestors who survived that genocidal era i tend to think the English were pigs and would have slaughtered any uncivilized savage in the process of conquest and surpassing the Spanish as the next Empire of choice ... that's just me...
I really enjoyed this content, must've taken a lot of effort. Different than your usual stuff in a good way, looking forward to more.
Thanks v much Zachary. Yes it was a difficult production to make. I had intended it to be only 15 minutes in duration, but there was simply too much story that had to be told.
outstanding. Great perspective. What a dream it was to travel that hypnotic landscape.
As a naval officer I abhor the implication that the Royal Navy is a haven for cannibalism. It is well known that we now have the problem relatively under control, and that it is the R.A.F. who now suffer the largest casualties in this area. And what do you think the Argylls ate in Aden? Arabs? Yours etc. Captain B. J. Smethwick in a white wine sauce with shallots, mushrooms and garlic.
Although unlikely to return north again, I had the work privilege of stints in Nunavut, 2002 to 2012, including Gjoa Haven, and thus always an interest in history. Your video is an excellant summary of explorations. Also remembering the oral history of the Inuit.
Thank you, yes definitely a privilege to work in such remote places!
My father worked on the DEW line in the mid 1950s. He said ships got through with supplies but had less than a two week window to get back out
Fascinating. Was he stationed up at Alert?
@@Geodiode He was moved from station to station: He mentioned Tununuk and Tuktoyaktuk...
Bravo! Enjoyed the program!
Thanks v much Steve!
Great video. Laid out brilliantly. Thank you. Peace be unto you.
What an amazing video. Absolutely fascinating!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another wonderful and educational production. Thank you.
Thank you v much Christina!
Excellent. Thank You
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
very good illustration. more videos on economic and human geography of earth.
Very interesting!
Thanks! 👍
Welcome!
Fantastic work with this one. As a geography enthusiast, I knew very little about this area or its history. I'm looking forward to more infamous geography vids!
Thanks very much Spencer!
No, sorry Spencer but by missing out the man who REALLY discovered the Northwest Passage , Geodiode has done Dr John Rae, and history, a serious disservice.
My GG….Grandfather was Captain John Davis. I have enjoyed getting to know the history of that region and what a difficult journey all of the explorers underwent.
Fantastic video. Thank You
Glad you liked it!
15:38 I’m actually watching this in Vancouver WA. I had no idea my hometown was named after someone who was looking for the Northwest Passage.
And yet the Vikings were able to navigate the passage because with the medieval warming it was warmer than it is today. Trace evidence of Viking boat rivets and other artefacts have been found on either side of the passage.
I am in Halifax, N.S., on the eastern coast of Canada. I am organizing a " club" called Elderfun Ltd., to form a group of over "65's" to make a trip across Canada by rail, living on board some "sleeping" , and "dining" cars, to enjoy travelling at an enjoyable speed across this great country of ours. Tell me of your OPINION ! here ! John M. Hill
That is awesome!
Wonderful documentary. A region I have often wondered about being a resident of Northern New England. I wish you had mentioned one of the earliest attempts to find the Northwest Passage by an English sea captain in 1577 as related in Samuel Bawlf's book, "The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake". He traveled from England, through Magellan's strait and up the western coast of America to the coast of Alaska before turning west on his famous voyage around the world.
Thanks! Perhaps because it was secret, it didn't show up in my researches?
@@Geodiode It was indeed secret but in Drake's journals and accounts of the voyage there is a curious gap when Drakes expedition was near Alaska. The book mentioned above, speculates that Drake spent the time looking for the west end of the northwest passage. You would need to read the book to get the full explanation.
I found the Aleutian Island a passing fancy during the months of moderate daylight hours, even in steel boats. I can't imagine wintering above Nome.
Indeed. I'm happy to sit tight in the temperate latitudes. The Aleutian islands were so inhospitable in terms of weather that they were dismissed as a route to invading Japan in WW2. Too much fog meant the planes couldn't fly on most days.
Well covered history of the NW passage!😀
We should make a story of the discovery and connections across the North Atlantic from Scandinavia and the Greenlandic Coasts since 985 AD. There was "regular" summer traffic up along the coast into Baffin Bay until connection with the was lost somewhere around mid 15th century, until connection was lost with the settlements - and when finally returning 1731, no (or almost no) Scandinavians was anymore in Greenland.
That's becaue about 1000 years ago the global temperature was 1,5C higher. Unfortunatelly todays climate is much colder and there is no sign it would be returning back to these temperatures any time soon
@Forsberg - thanks! I'll be doing a video in this series on the North Atlantic over the ages, and sure, the Viking crossings will be addressed. Another video on the fascinating settlement of Greenland, later abandoned due to the cooling of the earth in the late medieval period to 1700s.
@@Geodiode Magnificient - As former PM and CEO of Greenland Survey, I can provide you with more sources and maybe a more varied view - The reason for the loss of connection is unknown. All suggestions are speculations, even some are based on indicia!
The royal knarr ensuring yearly connections disappeared mid 14th century, making connections more random.
The prolific and luxury market for walrus tusk disappeared in Europe from 1400 lowering the expected main Greenlandic income.
Climate became harder causing less harvest and tougher times.
Almost half the supply and commercial base in Scandinavia (the city of Bergen) was eliminated during the plague in 15th century, so seafarers was missing.
Conflicts with inuits coming into Greenland from North around 1200 has been postulated, but no indicia do indicate violent conflicts between the agricultural and well organised society of norse farmers and sailors, and the unorganized semi-nomades of Inuitic hunters and gatherers.
Trade has been done between Norse and Inuit all long the western coast the whole way to the North of Greenland in the period.
An undated history from maybe 1400-1600 do tell about sailors lost in the ice, finding a dead Scandinavian in Inuit-dress, so maybe the Norse were assimilated with the nomadic Inuitic hunter-gatheres , that came into Greenland from north from around 1200 AD and moved southwards.
So there is a lot to think about, and there is no one single reason to the loss of connection - However, in Europe the supremacy of Greenland was claimed almost undisputed since 900 by the Danish-Norwegian King during the period with no connection, and even up until today.
During the Peace treaty in 1814.
More starters can be found at e.g. www.quora.com/How-did-a-small-and-unassuming-country-like-Denmark-come-into-possession-of-Greenland/answers/208737100
www.quora.com/Who-is-indigenous-to-Greenland/answer/Henrik-Forsberg-11
I really enjoyed this. My only quibble would be that you didn't mention the St Roch.
Thanks. There was so much to pack in, and I have to keep these videos relatively tight, hence I skipped it.
When I was younger, I faced the prospect of a long bus ride. This being before the age of smartphones my only entertainment would be a book.
I found a bookstore near a bus station and decided to getting the biggest book I could find, without looking at what it was about.
It was a thick old book, The title was hardly discernable. The inside front cover had the name "Terror": It was a dramatized story of what could have happened to the crew of the HMS Erebor and Terror. It was totally enthralling and ever since then I've soaked up any news about what happened to them.
The discovery of the wrecks a couple years ago was absolutely incredible.
One day I'd love to get to England and visit the naval museum.
Thanks for sharing this story.
Bingo! It was reading Dan Simmon's "The Terror" that inspired me to make this video ;)
That's the book!
Great Content!
Very interesting, thanks!
Informative video this is... 🍂
Glad you think so!
I think there will definitely be new discoveries when they study the wrecks of the ships, but don't you think that they would have taken the logs with them? I find it unlikely that they would have left something as important as ships logs behind. Excellent video. Thank you for uploading!
Glad you liked the video. Yes it's likely the logs would have been taken with them (which begs the question, why haven't they been found on king William Island?) But it's likely that a copy would have been made of some key aspects of their journal, or some sort of notes left behind on the ship
It's the same as leaving notes in the cairns. You want to hope that you make it through, but if you don't then you want anyone who follows you to have some idea of what happened. The ships themselves are good places to do it, since you are trying to reduce weight before heading out. Also, you have some hope that it will become beached rather than sinking, or possibly discovered a few years later still trapped in the ice.
@@Geodiode Some accounts by Rae mention that the logbooks had been found by Inuits who gave them to their children to play with. Dunno if it's true, but plausible at the very least.
@@ink3539 well if they'd given them to kids, then that would explain why they were never found, lol!
In fact, it was the RN rule to leave the log books on board ship when they were abandoned, intact, in orderly manner. Of course, we now know that at least some of the men re-manned the ships. And while it is possible that the log might have been removed by them later for deposit on land, it is thought that Terror might still hold the ship's log because Terror's circumstances seem to match Inuit testimony of a very sudden sinking, in which the crew were unable to bring much of anything off. It's also possible that there could be other documents or journals which could be enormously informative, too.
Very accurate work. Thank you. I travelled a lot in the artic for my work as photographer: baffin, ellesmere devon islands. Fascinated by the arctic gral!. Ciao from italy
Thank you - sounds like you had a fascinating voyage!
Very well done! Thank you for making me smarter than I was yesterday. 🤗
You’re welcome 😊Mission accomplished! ;)
I thank you for this wonderful video..I am booked on the Resolution for 7/22 voyage with National Geographic ..you gave me great insight for what I will be experiencing.....
Have fun!
That was a joy to watch. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Didn't know so many attempted to find the Northwest Passage.
Yes, it was an obsession of European explorers for centuries.
@@Geodiode As I have learned. Very informative.
Great video!
Thanks!
Thank you a lot..!!! Very interesting to learn and to ascertain the will power of brave navigators men of the old times.
Glad you enjoyed it! And I agree about the incredible courage of those men!
Robert McClure is my grandfathers great uncle. Robert McClure was born in Ireland however is of Scotts decent.
No way! Amazing to hear! You're connected to explorer glory! I just made a video about Scotland by the way. I hope you enjoy it
Nice! Answers MANY questions.
Glad it was helpful!
Great history lesson.
Glad you appreciated it!
Great video, thank you.
My great great grandfather was a young crew member on The Investigator.
Thanks! Fascinating to hear of your family being involved. They were very brave men to venture up there.
@@Geodiode They certainly were. I have his journal written whilst on the voyage. They endured hardships we can’t imagine.
Outstanding video. The 19th century attempts to find a northwest passage, in the face of common sense, and at great cost to human life, can be understood in the context of the muscular expansion of the British Empire, after it had defeated France and become the only sea power in the world.
Thanks - and yes, I agree with that assessment!
I enjoyed the scenery. Thanks. Was just listening to a podcast about a man who sailed solo through the passage, so was fun to see it.
You're welcome. Solo through the passage? That is a brave soul, even today...
Great video
Thanks!
Arrogant? Those men had courage and competence that we can only marvel at.
They certainly did. I should have balanced the comment on the attitude of the Victorian British explorers with their remarkable courage.
Don't forget. The knowledge Amundsen learned from the Inuit is what enabled him to reach the south pole first.
Thanks, Rick, for the Amundsen's experience. I am a geographer and enjoy to travel "on map".. now
Thanks very much for your very substantial, interesting, and exciting history ot the North-West-passage. I'd like to note however that you named it in German as the "Nordseeroute", which is at least a misleading word construction, since "Nordsee" means the open ocean between GB and Norway, which is simply a part of the Atlantic Ocean in its North-East. You should consider to rename it, maybe as "die schnelle nördliche (Route)" or otherwise. Yours, Elimar from Potsdam/Germany.
The cartography of nordwest Canadá was done by spanish, Bodega & Cuadra and Valdez, they shared It with english by a treat, Vancouver, whom should maintain the name of the Vancouver island as Bodega-Vancouver island but they did not done It. Anycase today we can find the names of Valdez City and Valdez port in north Canadá, also the Cuadra name near Vancouver..... But dont forget the original and magnificent cartography of West Canadá was done by the Spanish whom were the best along the centuries on these tasks.
After I made this video i realised i hadn't given the Spanish enough credit regarding the west coast. I also remember the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska. That ship was surely named after this same Valdez
Not to mention father Junipero Serra and the settling of the entire California coast
onteresting perspective. thank you
Welcome!
Columbus should have had to read the ancient greeks who measured the size of the earth within an error of a few percent.
Indeed, it was known, so heaven knows how he didn't get that memo.
Very interesting video, thank you!
You're welcome!
Great video. The locations of sunken Erebus and Terror at 20:18 should be reversed though.
Thanks! Yes it's possible i got the locations switched around. Let's hope we get more info from them soon!
Inuit didn't domesticate wolves. They brought their dogs with them when they came to the arctic some 2,000 years ago. 🙄 The pre-inuit Dorset culture also had dogs up here. There is no evidence they tied them to sleds tho.
Now this was interesting to watch.
Thank you v much! Glad you found it useful.
If gold or silver had ever shown up, they'd have DRILLED a passage through it. Gotta give credit to the Inuit. They have the whole place to themselves! ❤🐺🐻
More than likely. Just look at the craziness that happened in the Yukon in 1898
trudat - Prince Rupert and King Charles II knew what they were up to when the created Rupert's Land and the Hudson's Bay Company... the objective was not just furs, it included looking for mines and other treasures in the northlands where the Inuit, Innu, Cree, Dene and so many other non Europeans had lived from thousands of years. ... nothing new under the sun today... always someone trying to civilize the savages who fail to play be the civil code of whoever has control of the law at any given time...
Fascinating! Thank you 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
Enjoyed this video. Have read several books by Ken McGoogan he seems to say the man who eat his boots, Franklin, was pretty much incompetent compared to John Rae
We are booked on the Fram this August 2024 ending up in Cambridge Bay. Trying to glean as much info as I can before we go
Enjoy!
Great video. But surprising not to see the efforts of Captain Phipps in the 1700s
Can you do one on the northeast passage?
Adventures and those with foresight and imagination would still see the challenge as a worthwhile venture. (Especially those whose lives are stagnant and meaningless)
Yes, very true.
Fantastic!
i think the Amundsen claim of finally discovering ( mapping ) the waterway northwest passage was a bogus fact... by the early 1900's the Canadian Pacific railroad was a trading route that rendered a Northwest Passage obsolete and the CP had been active for nearly 20 years by then. Other railroads further south had connected the east American continent to the west Columbian continent for years before then... many early explorers died looking for the elusive northwest passage and the general story goes that no one was able to map it until Amundsen came along .... history is sometimes fixed by those who succeed above and beyond others...still a good topic full of potential legend such as the travels of Franklin and Parry who were operating in the early Morse code technology era when steam engines and rail roads were the New World Order.... in today's realm advanced tech such as that is kept on the military level and sometimes released on the public if investors can make billions with it...
Amundsen was of the type of wanting to "be the first", regardless of whether it had any usefulness commercially, and indeed by the turn of the 20th Century, the passage had little commercial value. But still he did it, and the voyage is well documented as being the first.
i'm glad you aknowledge that amundsen was on the first succsessful expedition to the north pole
Of course! Credit where it's due! The English explorer's club never forgave him for beating Scott to the South Pole...
Fantastic. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
You forgot to mention the SS Baychimo the legendary ghost ship of the Northwest Passage
You just picked up a new subscriber.
Welcome aboard! :)
I think that the first sailor to sail single handed across the passage is Belgian Willy de Roos!
288 comments is relative. The NWP is firm.
Enjoy making your new video in the future lad.
dpnt worry al gore said the ice will be all melted 20 years ago lol
Nice
Fantastic video. But i doubt that there will be a readable logbook in the sunken ships ...
Thanks Chris! We have to remain optimistic, but yes, paper will disintegrate pretty quickly in submerged conditions.
Wonderful.
Thank you! Cheers!
Very little snow falls up there. They actually get less precipitation than they do in the desert in the southern States.
Correct! Most tundra areas are effective deserts.
NO .As we move back into a ''solar grand Minimum'' The ice will come back like in thje early 1800ds
Very interesting indeed. However, the video passes over the best known route to the Indian region, discovered and explored first by Portuguese. Like the great Magellan, alas Magalhães, at the service of Spanish crown...
Yes you make a good point - I was aware of the Portuguese route since a child - Vasco da Gama, etc... and I mention this in my video on South Africa. I didn't known Magellan was Portuguese until I watched the new Amazon dramatisation about him! And Columbus was Italian!
Thank, Good! documentary film!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
I do have a question. What determines the violence of an eruption ? Is it a pent up pressure that finally breaks through the plug of rock that formed from previous eruptions? Or a heavier than usual tectonic displacement?
Thanks for your question. The strength of a volcanic eruption is primarily determined by factors such as magma composition, gas content, magma temperature, and the type of tectonic setting. Magma composition, especially the amount of silica, plays a crucial role; high-silica magma is more viscous, trapping gas and leading to more explosive eruptions. Conversely, low-silica magma flows more easily, usually resulting in less intense eruptions.
Gas content, mainly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur gases, builds pressure within the magma chamber. When the magma ascends and the pressure decreases, these gases expand rapidly, driving explosive eruptions. Temperature also impacts viscosity; hotter magma is less viscous, allowing gas to escape more readily and often producing less violent eruptions.
The tectonic setting, such as subduction zones, divergent boundaries, or hot spots, affects magma properties and eruption style. Subduction zones, for example, commonly produce explosive eruptions due to high water content and silica in the magma, while divergent boundaries and hot spots tend to create less explosive, effusive eruptions.
In sum, a combination of high silica content, gas pressure, lower temperature, and specific tectonic settings contributes to more powerful and destructive volcanic eruptions.
The Vikings were the first to make it through the Northwest Passage about 1,000 years ago. Back when it was warmer.
Stay hydrated lads
If only global warming was true we could finally have that route
The Canadian Govt claims it cannot provide adequate rescue/salvage/environmental protection for rhe sensitive ares for commercial shipping at this moment as there isn't anything out there but an ecosystem with sparse pockets of life that commercial shipping can destroy without adequate resources in place for problems. It's a non-ussue though because you can go through it by boat but pretty much need icebreakerz...
Interesting. Of course, if I was Canadian, then I'd feel irked about a certain other country that you share the world's longest border with, poking up there and claiming they have a right to pass through it. But really those lands belong, if anyone, to the Inuit, who were there before us whiteys.
substantive nature
I think you plotted Bellot Strait in the wrong place. Greetings from Rio.