If You Hate Humans, You Should Move To This Canadian Island Full Of Wild Horses

A pure paradise in the north.
Adventure Canada

Have you lost all faith in humanity? Get away from everyone and head to Sable island, a remote paradise just off the coast of Nova Scotia.

Sable Island has (almost) no human inhabitants. Instead, what you'll find are a collection of windswept beaches, shifting sand dunes, freshwater ponds and unique biota; some of which can't be found anywhere else in the world. The plants, animals and insects on the island took multiple centuries to adapt to the environment, making them a huge part of what makes Sable so special.

The most recognizable feature of Sable Island is its herd of wild horses, which roam freely across the green pastures of the land. They were first released onto the island in the late 18th century and, as time went by, they eventually became completely feral.

After researchers conducted genetic analyses on the horses, it was determined that they were genetically unique enough to be federally protected and preserved.

The island wasn't always completely remote. Historically, humans would sometimes end up on the island by way of shipwrecks. In fact, the island has been coined the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" due to having over 350 shipwrecks over the years.

Today, the island is a national park reserve, which is open to the public every summer from June to November. Visitors usually only go for day trips, arriving by air charter or private vessels that are anchored offshore.

But there have been some instances where people actually moved to the island for good. Zoe Lucas, a naturalist from Nova Scotia, is one of those people — she moved to the island in 1971 when she was 21 and has lived there for more than 40 years now.

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Lucas stayed in a wooden house that was built by the Meteorological Service of Canada in the 1940s. Every two weeks, essential supplies are flown to her so she can continue to survive and work on the island. Though she's by herself for the majority of the year, Lucas says she never really gets lonely.

She's got the horses, some rotational staff who visit throughout the year, and the world's largest breeding colony of grey seals to keep her company. Plus, Lucas says the island life is incredibly relaxing — she regularly enjoys the constant sunshine and 18-degree weather that blesses the island. If it were up to her, she'd stay there forever.embedded via

For more information, visit the island's official government webpage.