Open Water in the Northwest Passage

Stretches of open water within the sea ice, or “leads,” were seen during today’s low-altitude flight to survey the Northwest Passage. Credit: NASA/Jim Yungel

The Northwest Passage (NWP) is, from the European and northern Atlantic point of view. Also the sea route to the Pacific Ocean through the Arctic Ocean. Therefore along the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Although eastern route along the Arctic coasts of Norway and Siberia is accordingly called the Northeast Passage (NEP).
The various islands of the archipelago are separated from one another. Also  from the Canadian mainland by a series of Arctic waterways collectively known as the Northwest Passages or Northwestern Passages.