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a mystery locked in ice

by soren walljasper,

patricia healy, and eric blom

In 1845, British explorer Sir John Franklin and his crew of 128 men set out

in search of the Northwest Passage—a fabled sea route from the Atlantic

to the Pacific that would hasten trade between Europe and Asia. None of

Franklin’s crew survived. The Norwegian ship Gjøa in 1903-06 made the

first successful passage. In 2022, a National Geographic team attempted

to retrace Franklin’s expedition to find fresh evidence of its undoing.

a mystery

locked in ice

by soren walljasper,

patricia healy,

and eric blom

In 1845, British explorer Sir John

Franklin and his crew of 128 men set

out in search of the Northwest Passage—

a fabled sea route from the Atlantic

to the Pacific that would hasten trade

between Europe and Asia. None of

Franklin’s crew survived. The Nor-

wegian ship Gjøa in 1903-06 made

the first successful passage. In 2022,

a National Geographic team attempted

to retrace Franklin’s expedition to find

fresh evidence of its undoing.

Follow Polar Sun’s journey through the Northwest Passage

Route of H.M.S. Terror and H.M.S. Erebus (1845-48)

(June 26–August 17, 2022)

Sea Ice Coverage

Route of Polar Sun (2022)

Stop in town

Other stop

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Route of H.M.S. Terror and

H.M.S. Erebus (1845-48)

Route of Polar Sun (2022)

Other stop

Stop in town

Sea Ice Coverage

(June 26–August 17, 2022)

Less

More

A version of this story appears in the August 2023 issue of National Geographic magazine.


Sources: Douglas Stenton, University of Waterloo; Jonathan Moore, Parks Canada; Geir Kløver, Fram Museum; Walt Meier, National Snow and Ice Data Center, CIRES/University of Colorado; Matthew Betts, HMS Terror; Mark Synnott; Tom Gross