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Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, the only water route to the Pacific was "around the horn" and along the coasts of South America. Besides being very long, it was very dangerous. It was hoped that a way could be found going northwest that would be shorter, safer, and faster. Lacking such a route, the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 and the Panama Canal was completed in 1914. Route 66, the interstate highway that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, was established in 1926. Had a water route, a "Northwest Passage" existed, these other projects might not have been undertaken until much later.

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Why is the northwest passage an impractical trade route?

The Northwest Passage was so important because explorers wanted to find a shortcut to the Pacific northwest. So then Roald Amundsen was the first one to find that shortcut and get to the Pasific Northwest much faster than usual. I hope that answered your question! have a good day! :)


Why was the northwest passage so important?

it was important to find it because English, French and Dutch explorers were looking to get rich dog and cats to


Why did so many explorer's look for the Northwest passage?

because they wanted to


How did the search for the Northwest Passage lead to the founding of New France and New Netherland?

The northwest passage was a waterway connecting the Atlantic and pacific oceans


Why did Henry Hudson do what he did?

He did so, to find a Northwest passage through North America.


Why was the northwest passage important?

The NorthWest Passage was so important because it is what the English, French and Dutch explorers went to try and take it over to get rich! They would get rich by controlling the trade and would would charge other people to use the water and get the money from the trade.


Why did the french try to find the northwest passage?

So they could find an easier route to Asia.


Why was john Cabot so important?

John Cabot was an Italian explorer who was the first to land in North America since the Vikings. He was also the first to seek the Northwest Passage through the Arctic.


Why did nations want to find a northwest passage?

the European nations searched for a northwest passage during the 1500's because they wanted to get through the pacific ocean.the europeans were look searching for the northwest package to get to asaianother reason is so they can Why_did_European_nations_search_for_a_northwest_passage_during_the_1500sto the indies going west as if a portage.Read more: Why_did_European_nations_search_for_a_northwest_passage_during_the_1500s


What mountain range prevents a northwest passage?

I don't no if I got this correct. But by northwest passage i assume you mean the waters in Canada's north. If i assume that, there is no mountain range that blocks the area. I think the ice pack that is frozen year round is blocking this. As a result of global warming however, this ice pack is melting. So in the near future maybe a northwest passage can actually open up.


Why did Europeans explored search for a Northwest passage?

so they could find a safer and les expensive way to get to Asia


What is the name of the shortcut from Europe to Asia through North America?

Panama CanalAnother AnswerThere is another interesting answer. In the days of exploration, there was postulated a short cut. After all, there had to be a way for the water to get from one point to another, so a "Northwest Passage" was thought to exist. This passage would have been a water route that cut through the continent of North America. However it was never found because it did not exist. Until the Panama Canal was cut, there was no way other than around the Horn of Africa, or the Horn of South America to get from Europe to Asia.