Visitors aren’t allowed on the Outer Banks right now because of COVID-19. But there’s a new way to absorb the tranquility of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.On the seashore’s Facebook Page, the National Park Service has posted a 24-minute video of nothing but the sun rising and waves lapping on the beach.
The Zen-like video has struck a chord with those housebound by the pandemic. Despite its length and lack of action, it had been viewed more than 35,000 times as of Friday morning.
"The seashore is such a beautiful place of nature in action," said Scott Babinowich, who is in charge of interpretation and education at the seashore. "There's so many powerful themes of beauty, of tranquility, of hope, that you can see in pictures here, and we're just hoping that we can lighten some folks’ days in these trying times."
Babinowich said in a normal year, the seashore gets more than 2 million visitors.
"It's nice to find a way for those people to stay connected,to see the beautiful sights, to see the sights they're familiar with. To be inspired by the place," he said.
In response to the pandemic, the National Park Service has posted several of these long, tranquil videos, with no people and no narration. Other videos include one of cloud shadows passing over the Hatteras lighthouse.
