Adolf Eric Nordenskjöld 1878-80
The Northeast Passage 4
After 300 years of studying the course of the Northeast Passage it was indeed largely known. The first successful run through, however, was reserved to the Swede Nordenskjöld. With his steam-powered ship “Vega” the journey for nearly one Arctic summer succeeded in favorable ice conditions. Since he took the time to visit the indigenous population, he had to hibernate just before he could reach the Bering Street. The economic usage of the passage, however, could only be achieved after World War II and the invention of the icebreaker.