• the prospect of arriving at the North Pacific Ocean

    Ortelius' map of the world in 1570 marked a clear passage from west to east across
    the top of Siberia. Although the northern bourdaries of Siberia have been mapped with
    certainty, a perpetual icefield blocks the northeast passage to the Bering Sea. On
    this map the White Sea and its port Archangelsk are located at the far left.