Sable Island: A living treasure

Sable Island.

For generations of Nova Scotians, the words have stirred the imagination: a spit of sand in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, populated by wild horses, ringed by windswept beaches. It's the most remote part of the province, with a long and sometimes tragic history.

Weve all seen the photos. A lucky few have visited. But for most of us, Sable is a dream.

• Information Morning's live Sable Island show, Part 1
• Information Morning's live Sable Island show, Part 2
• Information Morning's live Sable Island show, Part 3
• Information Morning's live Sable Island show, Part 4
• Information Morning's live Sable Island show, Part 5

How does it feel to walk on beaches that stretch for miles with no other human in sight? What does it sound like? What's it like in a storm or in winter? Are the horses afraid of people?

Sable Island is Canada's newest national park reserve, identified as a national treasure, preserved in legislation for future generations to enjoy. The designation means more people could visit in the future. But exactly how they'll get there and what kind of access they'll have is still to be decided.

Parks Canada is asking Canadians for their thoughts on how to enjoy and protect Sable Island.

• On mobile? Click here to see Sable Island by the numbers

As that consultation process gets underway, CBC Nova Scotia wants to help kick start the conversation.

We've gathered stories of Sable Island's past and present, online and on our radio and television programs. We'll show you what's at stake and introduce you to people who know and love the island better than anyone else.

A CBC Nova Scotia crew also went to Sable Island and did something nobody has ever done before: broadcast live from the island, sharing the sights and sounds of this magical place with Canadians and others around the world.

We hope you'll enjoy this package of photos and stories about our most storied island:

• So you want to get to Sable Island. How do you do it? Click here to find out.
• What is it like to live on the island? Experience a day in the life of a researcher.
• Sable Island has long been known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Find out why.
• The wild horses on Sable Island are free from human interference now but it wasn't always that way. Find out what prompted the change.
• Some biologists believe the horses don't belong on Sable. What do you think?
• There's more to Sable than just the horses. Find out about some other creatures and critters.
• Did you know Sable Island used to be home to a colony of criminals?
• Meet Augustine Walsh, one of two people born on Sable Island.
• Sable Island's future is still uncertain. What are the issues?
• Megan Leslie representsSable Island in the House of Commons. She reflects on having a national park in the middle of a natural gas field.
• Sable Island is on the move, constantly. Find out how.
• Read why Sable Island's meteorological station is considered unique in the world.
• Watch how CBC was able to broadcast from the remote island.