Why did explorers seek the Northwest Passage?

Explorers sought the Northwest Passage as a potential maritime route that would allow ships to travel from the Atlantic Ocean directly to the Pacific Ocean through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America. The primary motivation for finding this passage was economic. During the Age of Exploration, European powers were looking for new trade routes to Asia to access valuable commodities like spices, silks, and other luxury goods. They wanted a passage that would offer a shorter and potentially faster alternative to the dangerous and lengthy routes around South America's Cape Horn (via the Strait of Magellan) or the southern tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope).

Navigating a northwest route through the Arctic would have greatly reduced the distance ships had to travel to reach Asia from Europe. However, the harsh conditions in the Arctic—such as ice coverage, extreme weather, and the lack of accurate maps of the region—made expeditions exceedingly difficult. Despite numerous attempts across several centuries, the Northwest Passage was not navigated successfully until the early 20th century, and even then, it was not a commercially viable route due to the thick, year-round sea ice.