Image by: Fiamma Straneo

Here Be Dragons: 400 Years of Icy Exploration in the Hudson Strait

From: Mind Open Media
Length: 11:57

400 years (and a little bit) ago, Arctic Explorer Henry Hudson set out from England on one of the most lavishly financed expeditions of his time. He was seeking a shorter trading route from England to the gold and spices from Asia — a Northwest Passage through Northern Canada’s harsh Sub-Arctic glaciers and sea-ice. Today, another Arctic Explorer is on a mission in the very same place — to answer the great questions of our time. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Here Be Dragons: 400 Years of Icy Exploration in ...
From: Mind Open Media

Adscn4431two_small

map
That 21st century Arctic Explorer is Fiamma Straneo, an oceanograher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Last year, Straneo travelled to the Hudson Strait to measure water salinity, water velocity, and temperature — the three elements she needs to understand climate change in the Arctic.

Who are these two explorers, and what could drive them to one of the most untraversed, inhospitable places on earth?

Piece Description

map
That 21st century Arctic Explorer is Fiamma Straneo, an oceanograher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Last year, Straneo travelled to the Hudson Strait to measure water salinity, water velocity, and temperature — the three elements she needs to understand climate change in the Arctic.

Who are these two explorers, and what could drive them to one of the most untraversed, inhospitable places on earth?

Broadcast History

Living On Earth, 2/24/2012

Transcript

MILLMAN: My name is Lawrence Millman, and I'm an arctic explorer, and I have an abiding interest in other arctic explorers who disappeared off the face of the earth.
CORWIN: On a modern-day expedition to the Hudson Bay, Larry Millman overheard an unusual story about the first white man to live among that region’s native Cree. The story had been passed down among the Cree for generations, and the white man was known as Firebeard.
MILLMAN: With very little research I determined that in all probability Firebeard was Henry Hudson, who was perhaps the best recognized navigator of his day.
CORWIN: There are only a few things we know about Henry Hudson’s personal life. [not in draft]
MILLMAN: Here’s one of the things we know about Henry Hudson, that he had a great affection for bangles. Like jewelry. And males in those days wore lots of jewelry and he liked golden wristbands, and and rings...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

In this era of airlines and satellite maps, one might wonder if there is any place left to be explored. 400 years ago, an Arctic Explorer named Henry Hudson set sail from England, searching for the riches of asia. He ended up marooned- in the treacherous waters now known as Hudson Bay. Today, that same region in Northern Canada remains untrodden and mysterious. Emily Corwin of Mind Open Media has our story about those who dare to venture there – 400 years ago, and today.

OUTRO:

Our story about arctic explorers comes to us from Emily Corwin and Mind Open Media, working with scientists to tell their stories -- about both their science and their lives.