But, it is the scenery that is so exciting to visitors and Cape Bretoners. The plateaus of the highlands are 1,300 feet above the sea. What a view they give of the Atlantic Ocean on the east side and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the west! Waves crash at the bottom of steep cliffs. Mountains rise up sharply, looking dark and mysterious. They fall away suddenly to deep valleys. Waterfalls and rapids rush along.

The Park includes the northern part of Inverness and Victoria Counties. It covers 950 square kilometres. It was set aside by government in 1936 as the first national park in the Atlantic provinces.

There are many things to do in the Park. You can golf, go camping, swim, fish, cross-country ski and hike along 27 trails. Whatever you do, bring a camera!

Comprehension Questions

1. What do the Canadian Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland all have in common?
2. Why is the Cape Breton Highlands National Park important to villages on the Cabot Trail?
3. How would you explain what a national park is?
4. Why can we see some of the oldest rock on earth in the Cape Breton Highlands?

Something to Think About

Do you think it is important to protect wilderness areas? Why or why not? How do you think people who lived near the Park felt about new rules to protect wilderness when the Park was first created?