The Remains of Northumberland House Beechey Island

High Arctic Travel Picture Gallery Canada: Beechey Island, Lancaster Sound | Bylot Island, Lancaster Sound | Baffin Island, Baffin Bay 1 | Baffin Island, Baffin Bay 2  Greenland: Uummannaq | Disko Bay, Ilulissat, Sisimuit | Sisimuiut, Evigshed Fjord | Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland  Svalbard

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The remains of Northumberland House erected in 1852-1853 by the crew of HMS North Star under the command of W.J.S. Pullen. This was one of five ships of the British Admiralty's final effort to trace the expedition of Sir John Franklin led by Sir Edward Belcher.

The building was constructed from masts and other wood salvaged from a wrecked whaler. It was built in case the missing members of Franklin's expedition should return to Beechey Island even though this was 7 years after they had last been seen.

In May 1854 Belcher ordered 4 of the 5 ships to be abandoned as they were ice-bound, the fifth, the Resolute was retrieved by an American whaler. Belcher was court martialled on return to England for the loss of these ships but acquitted.

Air temp: +3º C Latitude: 74º 43' N Longitude: 91º 48' W

 

These are pictures from a cruise to the High Arctic in August 2010, from Resolute Bay Canada to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland.
Pictures copyright Paul Ward. Pentax digital equipment.

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