Parks Canada launches virtual tours of Sable Island

The W5 crew shares photos from their visit to Sable Island National Park. (Kate Udle)

Parks Canada has launched a new way for people to experience the raw beauty of Sable Island.

A sliver of shifting sand 42 kilometres in length, Sable Island is located 190 kilometres from the Nova Scotia coastline and is Canada’s 43rd national park. A remote area, only a small number of people have experienced the island as tourists.

“For generations, the island and its iconic populations of wild horses and grey seals have captured the attention and hearts of people worldwide,” reads a news release from Parks Canada.

Now, virtual visitors can explore the island thanks to two new digital exhibits on Google Arts and Culture – a platform that’s partnered with over 2,000 cultural institutions to share their collections online.

“Parks Canada is excited to share new ways for people to experience Sable Island National Park Reserve’s unique landscape and learn about the important work being done to protect its dynamic ecosystem,” said Alannah Phillips, a field unit superintendent for mainland Nova Scotia.

“Through innovative projects like this, more people will have the opportunity to connect with this extraordinary place.”

“A Day Trip to Sable Island” offers an immersive experience through 360-degree footage and images and “Fences in the Sand” highlights an ongoing research project that explores how the wild horse population impacts the island’s landscape and ecology.

“Through photos, artwork, and 360-degree footage, virtual visitors dive into this collaborative project between Parks Canada and the Sable Island Institute,” reads the release.

The virtual experiences are part of Parks Canada’s extensive digital library, which also includes a new flyover video of Sable Island that offers a 360-degree, tip-to-tip view of the island.

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