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
|