In this 4th episode of Under The Pole III, we find the crew of the Why in preparation for the Northwest Passage. The sailboat arrives in Canada - in Pond Inlet to be exact - after 4 days of crossing, in fog and ice. On the program, the crossing of this mythical passage but also - and always - scientific diving.
In the company of Cyril Gallut, Marine Biologist on the evolution of species at the National Museum of Natural History, Ghislain Bardout and other divers will study the distribution of underwater species according to depth and latitude. The aim is to take samples from the bottom of the water at different depths and in a standardized manner. On board, we learn to recognize the animals for the youngest and cook for the crew for the oldest.
The Why finally set sail again through Lancaster Sound, opening the Northwest Passage. The crew stops at Beechey Island, which was the site of the Franklin expedition's first wintering in 1845/1846. It was the starting point of the great adventure but also the greatest tragedy of polar exploration, as Franklin and his 128 men died after being trapped by ice.
"It's the right place to enter the Northwest Passage, to soak it all up." explain Ghislain Bardout and his wife, Emmanuelle.
Then on to Resolute, a hamlet in Canada, which was the base camp, but also the departure and arrival points for Under The Pole I.
And when it's over... There's more... Let's make way for Kayak, the family dog, who also travelled hundreds of kilometres by plane to join his masters and take part in the great journey.
