A very small piece of land in the Atlantic Ocean attracts with its mystery and uniqueness. Free and beautiful wild horses calmly approach and look into the eyes, as if they understand what a person is thinking. Only here you can stroke wild horses and think about what the prisoners of this island had to experience.
Misterious story
Not far from civilization, literally at a distance of 200 kilometers from Nova Scotia, is the mystery of planet Earth. This unknown creature is Sable Island. The length of this saber-shaped island from west to east is now about 38 kilometers. The maximum width of this piece of land is only 1.5 kilometers. Why is today's size being negotiated? Because tomorrow it will be different. This is the property of an unsolved mysterious island.
We also recommend visiting Spirit Island, Alberta, Canada.
Sable Island is shrouded in mystery from the moment it was discovered to the present day. Even its name and the history of its discovery still do not have a clear definition. Scientists disagree about the discoverers of the island. The word Sable in different interpretations means sand, and black, and saber, and arctic fox. Everyone likes their own translation. Most likely it is black sand, but not by the color of the latter, but by the properties that are attributed to the wonderful island.
At the junction of two elements
On the map of the World Ocean, currents are indicated, warm and cold, which for some reason appeared in these endless waters. The Gulf Stream, for example, begins its warm run from the Gulf of Mexico, and the Labrador Cold Stream - near icy Greenland - the birthplace of the snow queen Mr. Andersen. And here, where these ice and fire meet, Sable Island arose.
Many legends have been invented about him. In addition to the official name, it has others. For example, "eater of ships", or "grave of the Atlantic." These names were given to the island because many ships, dating back to time immemorial, have found their end in its coastal quicksand.
Sable Island belongs to Canada, but its geographic location is so uncertain that in a few years it may reach the coast of Portugal. Such is the Flying Dutchman. The unique ability of the island to move more than two hundred meters to the east per year does not allow us to accurately determine its coordinates.
And all because the two currents argue with each other. And at the place of their discord, this sandy strip appeared, where there is almost always a storm.
The clear sky at sunrise, the bright warm sun and the cloudless sky are suddenly replaced by clouds and wind.
The ships passing by this little monster are completely unaware of the fate prepared for them. The sand that Sable is made of tends to take on the shades of the sea, and the island becomes completely invisible behind the huge waves. The captain leads his ship straight into the embrace of the quicksand of this island. And it's not that it's scary that the ship runs aground, but that it's impossible to get out of here. The bottomless sands gradually take the ship and the entire crew.
The first recorded shipwreck and shipwreck in the sands of the island was recorded in 1583. It was the British ship "Delight".
Sable's last victim was the passenger steamer Manhasset in 1947. All passengers and crew of this vessel were brought ashore by the rescue team, which was permanently residing on the island for this purpose.
Over the years, the island has taken about five hundred ships into its deadly embrace. Nobody knows how many there actually were. One day, after a very long storm, the sands parted and showed their treasures. In this huge pit, the remains of eight ships were discovered, including a Roman galley.
In 1802, after several disasters, in which England lost three beautiful ships in a year and a large number of valuables transported on them, it was decided to put a lighthouse on the island and settle a rescue team. From that moment on, the island became permanently inhabited.
National park
In appearance, this strip of land does not inspire fear. Wild horses frolic on it, probably escaped from some ship and have lived here for more than one hundred years. The animals have adapted to their new homeland and feel quite comfortable here. Succulent grass and flowers cannot be called sparse vegetation, so these cute animals are quite free here. Also, the island was chosen for themselves by long-faced seals spending their mating season here. Common seals, ringed seals, harp seals, and hooded seals have settled in the coastal waters.
About 350 species of migratory birds use this land as a temporary refuge. And some of them leave their offspring here. The native birds are the savanna bunting and the pink tern. The only land mammals other than humans on this island are wild horses of a special breed. According to the latest data, there are about 300 of them.
All this diversity of nature inspired in 2010 the Canadian authorities to organize a National Park here, called Sable Island National Park.
How to get there on your own
Now the island is practically safe for ships passing by, thanks to the round-the-clock work of the lighthouse and radio beacon. Getting here on your own is not easy. The permission of the authorities is imperative. But all efforts will pay off with interest, only you set foot on the land of this mysterious piece of land.
The airport of the capital of Nova Scotia Halifax (Halifax) named after Robert Stanfield receives international flights from many airports around the world. There is a regular bus from the airport to the city, which will take you to the center in half an hour. From Quebec or Montreal, a train runs to Halifax.
Helicopter or water options are offered to the destination of your trip - the mysterious island.
Have a nice trip!
There are many more interesting places in Canada, which include the Thousand Islands Park and the Majestic Bay of Fundy. - read on the pages of our site.
