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The spectacular Soufirere Hills Volcano has been erupting since 1995
© Hemera / Thinkstock
Montserrat Travel Guide
Key Facts
Area:
102 sq km (39 sq miles).
Population:
4,875 (2008).
Population density:
47.79 per sq km.
Capital:
Plymouth is still officially the capital, but was mostly destroyed by pyroclastic flows in August 1997. The government headquarters are currently in Brades. There are plans to turn Little Bay into the new capital.
Government:
British Overseas Territory since 1632.
Head of state:
HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Adrian Davis since 2011
Head of government:
Chief Minister Reuben Theodor Meade since 2009.
Electricity:
220 volts AC, 60Hz. Some buildings are wired to accept 110-volt appliances.
Montserrat is a quiet, laid-back island where you can hike, birdwatch, snorkel, or enjoy a couple of drinks over a game of dominoes.
The tiny Caribbean island was dealt a devastating blow when the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted massively in 1995 and again in 1997. Almost half the island was rendered uninhabitable, including the capital, Plymouth, which today stands half-submerged in volcanic ash and mud. The effects were not limited to physical destruction. Montserrat's economy was severely damaged, and around two-thirds of the 12,000 population left the island.
The volcano remains active and much of the island is still out of bounds, but this in itself is a draw for tourists looking for something beyond the usual Caribbean experience of beaches and luxury resorts.
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