Final answer:
The Northwest Passage was a sought-after sea route between Europe and Asia, promising quicker trade and was finally navigated in the 20th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Northwest Passage was a long-sought after sea route that was believed to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. This passage was considered extremely important because it promised a more direct and quicker trade route between Europe and Asia, potentially transforming global trade patterns. European explorers and later American explorers searched tirelessly for the passage, driven by a mix of economic, political, and scientific motivations. It was not until the 20th century, with the advent of modern icebreaker ships and climate change, that the passage became fully navigable, and it still remains a challenging and sometimes treacherous route.