Why Ships Avoided Sailing Around Africa Instead of Through the Bering Strait

Introduction

The Bering Strait, an Arctic waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, is often misunderstood in comparison to sailing routes around Africa. Many question why ships chose to sail through the Bering Strait rather than making the long journey around Africa. This article will explore the practical reasons, historical context, and logistical advantages that made sailing around Africa a less favorable option.

The Alternatives to the Bering Strait

Alternative routes around Africa offer much shorter travel distances and, importantly, access to established canals and other navigational aids that modern shipping relies on. To take the long route around the Cape of Good Hope, a ship must traverse the South Atlantic, sail around the Cape of Good Hope at the southernmost tip of Africa, and then navigate up the east coast of Africa. This can add a minimum of 8000 miles to a journey, far beyond what is offered by the Bering Strait.

In contemporary times, the most prominent options—such as the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal—permit ships to traverse the long journey in the Northern Hemisphere, significantly reducing travel time and distance.

Historical Context of African Navigation

The exploration of west and central Africa below the Sahara Desert was a gradual process through which port cities such as El-Kantara, Djenne, and Timbuktu were established. These were important waypoints for caravans traveling to the Middle East and other regions. However, sailing around Africa required a vessel to navigate a journey that was both long and fraught with challenges.

The Bering Strait, conversely, offered a much shorter route for ships directly from the Pacific to the Atlantic. However, the Bering Strait was largely navigable only during the historic age of sail, particularly after the journey undertaken by Vasco da Gama.

Advantages of the Panama and Suez Canals

The Panama and Suez Canals provided much-needed shortcuts and strategic advantages. The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, dramatically reducing journey times between Europe and Asia. The Panama Canal, opened in 1914, similarly shortened the trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic by providing a central hub at the isthmus of Panama.

Traversing these canals not only reduces the travel distance but also eliminates the need to navigate treacherous seas and weather conditions. The canals were instrumental in the development of global trade, allowing ships to avoid the risk and time of circumnavigating Africa.

Practical and Historical Reasons for Avoiding the Long Route

The primary disadvantage of the long route around Africa was its length and the associated high risk of adverse weather conditions. According to Ferdinand Magellan, the first circumnavigation of the globe, the voyage was arduous and dangerous. Ships were often ice-bound, and the journey could take years, as evidenced by Roald Amundsen's expedition in the Gjellerup, which was ice-bound for much of the journey.

The canals and the Bering Strait offered more reliable and efficient routes. Ships could use the Northern Sea Route, a voyage that could take as little as 40 days from Europe to Tokyo during the ice-free summer months, compared to the months it would take to sail around Africa.

Conclusion

In summary, while the idea of sailing around Africa may seem appealing in terms of distance, the practical and logistical disadvantages of such a journey make the use of the Bering Strait and well-maintained canals like the Panama and Suez Canals far more advantageous. Advances in navigation and the construction of canals have simplified and expedited global shipping, making the long route around Africa a less popular choice.