Montserrat (UK) - Plymouth
"Modern Day Pompeii" in Caribbean
Montserrat is a british territory in Caribbean. The island measures approximately 16 km (10 mi) long and 11 km (7 mi) wide and is nicknamed The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean both for its resemblance to coastal Ireland and for the Irish ancestry of many of its inhabitants. On 18 July 1995, the previously dormant Soufrière Hills volcano, in the southern part of the island, became active. Eruptions destroyed Montserrat's Georgian era capital city of Plymouth. Between 1995 and 2000, two-thirds of the island's population was forced to flee, leaving fewer than 1,200 people on the island.
BEST TIME to VISIT
MONTSERRAT
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to PLYMOUTH
from January to mid April
goats and the small airstrip of the island. The biggest airport was destroyed by the eruption.
seashore landscape
the Plymouth population left the city in time before the biggest eruptions, the are was forbidden and some rebuilt new houses in the northern part of the island.
The new city displays paintings of the buildings buried in ashes in Plymouth
Bay view
old canon and marina
small beach
Volcanic landscape - the volcanic is behind this mountain and the area is forbidden (Zone V)
the volcano eruption increases the size of the island - picture of new land gained on the sea
Bird's eye on the volcano
volcanic landscape
lush landscape
this small rocky islet is belonging to Antigua and Barbuda. Behind : the island of St Kitts
Volcanic black sand beach - There is only one white sand beach on the Montserrat island.
The population is now leaving on the northern side of the island. More than 50% of the island is restricted for safety reasons.
house with an amazing seaview
rocky beach with black sand
old british church
National Museum
modern colorful houses
colorful caribbean style shop
a guarantee to return to Monserrat.. if you drink it
the Fount : you drink this water and you are guaranted to return to Montserrat
landscape
lush landscape
costline with new houses as most of the population was living in the southern side before the volcanic eruptions.
Old Sugar Mill from outside
old Sugar Mill
iguana
If you want to explore Zone V and Plymouth : you need to have an authorized guide and we have a policeman with us for the visit. He is opening the gate to enter in the Restiction Zone called Zone V where the volcano is.
a view of the destroyed city of Plymouth - see our Plymouth page to see more. As you can see : the city was created at the bottom of the volcano.