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Lewis and Clark Expedition: Northwest Passage

Summary: This article about the Lewis and Clark Expedition provides interesting facts about the explorers search for a 'Northwest Passage' that would provide a waterway route across the west all the way to the Pacific Ocean. At this time in American history it was believed that a water route could be found that would connect the Missouri River with the Pacific Ocean, also known as the South Sea, and the riches of the Orient that lay beyond. The explorations of the expedition dispelled the myths and speculation of the existence of a 'Northwest Passage'.

Lewis and Clark Expedition - Northwest Passage
 
Lewis and Clark Expedition: Northwest Passage

The Lewis and Clark expedition map shows the route taken by the explorers during their outward explorations across ten modern day states to the Pacific Ocean (1804 - 1805) and their return journey home (1806).

  • The explorers hoped to travel by rivers and waterways all the way to the Pacific Ocean
  • The Lewis and Clark expedition prepared a large keelboat for their journey and also made use of pirogues, dugout canoes, and bullboats 
  • They only took two horses with them
  • The major rivers that they explored included the Missouri River, the Ohio River, the Yellowstone River and the Columbia River

Lewis and Clark Map

 

Lewis and Clark Expedition for kids: Facts about the Northwest Passage
The following fact sheet provides interesting facts about the Northwest Passage for kids and schools.

Lewis and Clark Expedition: Facts about the Northwest Passage

 
Northwest Passage Fact 1:

Lewis and Clark started their expedition of discovery on May 14, 1804, but European explorers, such as Christopher Columbus and John Cabot, had been searching for the illusive water route that would connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean (the South Sea) for hundreds of years.

   
Northwest Passage Fact 2: Lucrative trade with the Orient and India was only possible by sailing south around Africa or South America which was a long and hazardous journey
   
Northwest Passage Fact 3: The later explorers continued searching for an easy waterway to enable them to cross the 3000 mile continent of North America from Europe and the Atlantic Ocean which would connect them to the Pacific.
   
Northwest Passage Fact 4: They were hoping to find a passage consisting of a river, or series of connected rivers, that would cross the western mountains and reach the Pacific Ocean.
   
Northwest Passage Fact 5: A 'Northwest Passage' would have allowed more direct commerce with the Orient including the riches of Cathay (China), Japan and Indonesia.
   
Northwest Passage Fact 6: President Thomas Jefferson believed the discovery of the 'Northwest Passage' would bring great wealth and new trade opportunities to the United States of America.
   
Northwest Passage Fact 7: The term 'Northwest Passage' was coined by Richard Hakluyt who published Voyages in Search of the North-West Passage in 1587.
   
Northwest Passage Fact 8: Lewis and Clark failed to find a series of connecting rivers to travel across the North American continent.
   
Northwest Passage Fact 9: The expedition found the headwaters of the Missouri River, then crossed the Continental Divide and Lemhi Pass to discover that there was no Northwest Passage.
   
Northwest Passage Fact 10: Lewis and Clark found that the Rocky Mountains were much more extensive than anticipated (over 300 miles across in some places) and that the upper reaches of the Missouri River were simply not navigable.

Lewis and Clark Expedition: Facts about the Northwest Passage

Facts about Northwest Passage for kids
  • Fascinating information and interesting facts about the Lewis and Clark Expedition for kids: Northwest Passage
  • History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Northwest Passage for kids
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  • Interesting Facts, History and information for kids and schools
  • Ideal Homework resource: Northwest Passage
  • History of the famous explorers and their journey
  • The famous voyage of discovery and exploration failed to find the illusive route to the riches of the Orient
Lewis and Clark Expedition: Northwest Passage

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