Sable Island, Remote island in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Sable Island is a crescent-shaped sand formation off the coast of Nova Scotia that stretches more than forty kilometers along the Continental Shelf. The entire surface consists of shifting dunes and low grassland constantly shaped by Atlantic winds.
An English ship called Delight wrecked here in the late sixteenth century and was the first documented wreck in these waters. In the early nineteenth century the governor of Nova Scotia established rescue stations to help shipwreck survivors.
The name comes from the French word for sand and describes the place well, as it consists entirely of dunes. Visitors today see mainly the wild horses that roam freely across the grassland and have become a symbol of this remote location.
Access is only possible with chartered planes or boats from Halifax and requires a permit from Parks Canada. Visiting time is limited to the summer months between June and October as weather outside this period is too rough.
The island is home to more than five hundred wild horses whose ancestors were brought by Acadians and have been protected by federal law since 1960. These animals have fully adapted to the harsh climate and sparse vegetation and live without human intervention.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
