Up, Up and Away!

After trying, unsuccessfully, for so many years to find the Northwest Passage, not only was it found, but someone finally sailed through it. The same person then went on to fly over the Arctic in a dirigible, a kind of motorized hot-air balloon.

When the 20th century arrived, the Arctic was still one of the world's last great frontiers. Despite over 300 years spent trying to explore and understand it, still not much was known of the Arctic or its people.

This part of the Passageways: True Tales of Adventure for Young Explorers website explains how the Northwest Passage was finally navigated by ship. Canada would later claim rights over all the Arctic islands along this route.

Click on the explorer's name to find out more about him.