Montserrat

Aside from the volcano "exclusion area," Montserrat remains the Emerald Isle of Eden developed long ago by the first European settlers who happened to be Irish. Montserrat has survived hurricanes and more than one devastating volcanic eruption. True to its Emerald Isle nickname, the lushness of this 38-square-mile, pear-shaped island evokes Ireland, only with a much milder and sunnier climate. Split into the Safe Zone, Daytime Entry Zone and Exclusion Zone, the tiny island continues to rise from the ashes.

St Patrick’s day is celebrated here, and you could be mistaken for thinking you were in Ireland whilst tucking into a plate of Irish stew and cabbage. As a special non-Irish touch, there is also the throbbing beat of steel drums as well as Calypso. With volcanic rock covering the dusty roads, no stoplights, only two hotels and a small amount of guesthouses, Montserrat is truly like no place on the planet.

Understanding The Geography

Montserrat is a lush, mountainous island in the Caribbean Sea, located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles. Montserrat was given its name by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World in 1493.

Montserrat is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Its official name is the Crown Colony of Montserrat.

The island of Montserrat is located East-Southeast of Puerto Rico and Southwest of Antigua. Montserrat has been a quiet haven of extraordinary scenic beauty and near perfect climate to the mainly Canadian, British and US expatriates who sought privacy in its Cliffside villas and estates.

Montserrat is located in the Caribbean hurricane zone and has suffered repeated assaults from hurricanes. However, the damage caused was nothing compared to that fashioned by the eruption of a previously dormant volcano, Soufriere, in August 1997.

This made almost half the island uninhabitable, and most of the population left the island. Many have since returned, but the island has been left more dependent than ever on aid and support from the British government.