Around the end of the sixteenth century, several expiditions tried to establish a north-east passage to Asia, but fog, pack-ice, and the confusing geography of the coast of Russia proved consistently confusing. No one pursued a north-east passage with such tenacious skill as the Dutch sailing-master William Barents.

Around the end of the sixteenth century, several expiditions tried to establish a north-east passage to Asia, but fog, pack-ice, and the confusing geography of the coast of Russia proved consistently confusing. No one pursued a north-east passage with such tenacious skill as the Dutch sailing-master William Barents.