Montserrat
Facts, Map, & History
Montserrat, Lesser Antilles
Montserrat
Montserrat, island and overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The pear-shaped island, part of the Lesser Antilles chain, is known as the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean,” in part because of its formerly large population of people who originated from Ireland. Montserrat is located about 27 miles (43 km) southwest of Antigua and about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Guadeloupe.
Lesser Antilles
Plymouth, on the southwestern coast, was the capital and only port of entry until 1997, when volcanic eruptions destroyed much of the town and the island’s most-spectacular vegetation. Government activities were subsequently relocated to Brades Estate (usually called Brades) and neighbouring areas, in the northwestern part of the island. The de facto capital is thus in and around Brades. Sighted and named by Christopher Columbus in 1493, Montserrat is a rich admixture of African, North American, and European influences. Its physical and human landscapes have been battered but not obliterated by the series of natural disasters that beset the island. Area 40 square miles (103 square km). Pop. (2001) 4,491; (2011) 4,922.
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