Marine Glossary

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Northeast Passage

The east-bound sailing route over the top of Norway and Russia from the North Sea to the Bering Strait. In Russia it is referred to as the Northern Sea Route and with the aid of ice breakers it is used for commerce more or less routinely since the mid 1900's.

It was first sailed in 1878-79 by Erik Nordenskiold in the Vega a full rigged bark of 357 gross tons with a 60 HP steam auxuliary engine. He spent one winter in the ice, but had very nearly made it through, and likely could of had he not spent so much time gathering scientific data along the way.

It has more likely than not been sailed since by Russian sailors at least in sections. There are many large rivers that empty into the ocean along this route and much of the Siberian development has taken place inland along these rivers, which serve as frozen roads during the winter.

See Voyage of the Vega by Nordenskiold
and Quest for the Northeast Passage by A. Richard Mansir.

As with the Northwest Passage, early attempts to find and traverse the Northeast Passage began in the 1500's.

The highest latitude along the route is Cape Chelyuskin at 77° 43' N, 104° 15' E. The voyage from Bering Strait to the north tip of Norway is about 3,500 miles.