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How did Jacques Cartier contribute to the search for the Northwest Passage?

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Map of the Arctic region highlighting the Northwest Passage, a maritime route shown with a red line connecting the Atlantic Ocean near Greenland to the Pacific Ocean via the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, passing north of Canada and Alaska through the Bering Sea. Major islands and surrounding countries such as Russia, Norway, Denmark (Greenland), the United States (Alaska), and Canada are labeled.
Northwest Passage

Jacques Cartier was commissioned by King Francis I of France to lead expeditions to North America with the primary goal of discovering gold, spices, and a passage to Asia.12

During his voyages between 1534 and 1542, Cartier explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence and navigated the St. Lawrence River as far as the island of Montreal. While he failed to find a direct route to Asia, he reported that the St. Lawrence River was a massive waterway that potentially led to the continent's interior and possibly toward Asia.23

Cartier’s contributions were defined by his mapping of the region and his efforts to secure French claims in North America, though he ultimately failed to locate the elusive Northwest Passage. His later expeditions were also focused on establishing colonies and searching for precious metals, which proved unsuccessful.231