![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Nordwestpassage_NASA_Worldwind-globe.png/640px-Nordwestpassage_NASA_Worldwind-globe.png&w=640&q=50)
Northwest Passage
sea route north of North America / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Northwest Passage is a sea passage along the north coast of North America, through the Arctic Ocean. Because of ice, the passage is usually closed to ships.
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Nordwestpassage_NASA_Worldwind-globe.png/640px-Nordwestpassage_NASA_Worldwind-globe.png)
The Spanish Empire wanted to reach Asia by a western route, because Portugal controlled the eastern route around the Cape of Good Hope. Spain wanted to have a route that it could control. This caused most European countries to search for a possible route. Roald Amundsen was the first person to navigate the passage between 1903 and 1906.
Global warming is increasing the melting for the Passage.