Geography: It occupies the island of the same name in the Lesser Antilles group, in the Leeward Islands group. Montserrat Island is located approximately 480 km southeast of Puerto Rico and 48 km southwest of Antigua. In the north, it borders by sea with the island of Nevis (Saint Kitts and Nevis), in the south - with Guadeloupe (along the strait of the same name).
Time: Lags behind Moscow by 7 hours in winter and by 8 hours - in summer
Nature: Montserrat is one vast volcanic cone measuring 16 km by 11 km, whose formation as an island began about 4 million years ago. For the most part, the entire massif of the island is formed by the slopes of the Soufriere volcano and its side craters. The landscape is mountainous (average altitude is about 600 m) and teeming with traces of volcanic activity. A small coastal lowland (no more than 180 m wide) surrounds almost the entire island along the perimeter, interrupted in many places by rocky cliffs up to 30 meters high and lava "tongues" running down into the sea. Most of the rocky shores along the water's edge are framed by beaches of black and gray volcanic sand, only one beach on the island, in Rendezvous Bay, has white coral sand.
The Soufriere volcanic massif is formed by three main cones - Soufriere itself (about 900 m), Chances peak (915 m) and Soufriere Hill (the highest point of the island - English Crater, 931 m). After 400 years of sleep, Soufriere began erupting in July 1995 and is constantly active to this day. Eruptions of volcanic gases and rapid pyroclastic flows occur regularly, often reaching the coast. During the eruption in July 2003, the Soufriere cone collapsed by two-thirds in the crater zone, forming a vast depression oriented to the southeast. On March 3, 2004, another eruption was observed, during which up to 700 tons of sulfur dioxide per hour were released into the atmosphere, and a cloud of ash and ash carried to the neighboring islands. Currently, the volcano is relatively calm, but earthquakes up to 3.5 points and ash emissions are observed regularly.
Despite such difficult natural conditions, Montserrat is called "one of the last perfect ecosystems in the world." Also known as the "Emerald Isle of the Caribbean", it is renowned for its fertile volcanic soils, which provide excellent growing conditions for plants. Abundant flora with extensive thickets of yellow hibiscus, bamboo, purple cannabis or all kinds of climbing vines covers almost all open areas of its surface. This island is the only habitat for the Montserrat oriole (the national symbol of the country), Heliconia butterflies, a special subspecies of hummingbirds, as well as a wintering place for many migratory birds. It has its own population of iguanas, geckos and other reptiles, and many amphibians are found in the humid mountain forests. However, the activity of the volcano is increasingly changing this unique ecosystem - the mountainous areas near the crater have practically died out, and the heavily eroded landscapes have replaced the once green forests. Volcanic ash and acid rain also kill coral reefs, especially to the east and southeast of the island. Some reefs are literally buried under piles of ash and volcanic sediments.
Climate: Subequatorial trade wind, warm throughout the year. The average air temperature on the coast is from +24 C to +35 C all year round, in the "mountainous regions" it is somewhat cooler - from +18 C to +27 C. The period from December to February is somewhat cooler - the average monthly temperature at this time ranges from +21 C (in the evening) to +28 C (in the afternoon). In summer (from May to October) it is somewhat warmer - from +23 C in the evening to +31 C in the daytime.
Precipitation falls from 800 to 3000 mm per year. There is no clearly pronounced rainy season here, a downpour can hit the island at any time of the year, and usually the rains are very heavy, but short-lived. However, some peak precipitation is observed from May to July, as well as from August to October-November, when tropical hurricanes hit the island.
Political system: British Overseas Territory since 1632 Montserrat residents have full rights and British citizenship (since 2002).
The head of state is the Queen of Great Britain, represented by the governor (appointed by the monarch). According to the 1960 Constitution, the competence of the governor includes issues of foreign policy, defense and internal security. Executive power is vested in the Executive Council (7 members: the governor, the head of government, three ministers, the attorney general and the secretary of finance), headed by the governor. The prime minister is usually the leader of the party or majority coalition that wins the last election.
Legislature - unicameral Legislative Council of Montserrat (11 seats, 9 of which are elected, councilors have a term of 5 years).
Administrative divisions: Administratively, the country is divided into 3 counties: St. Anthony, St. George's and St. Peter.
Population: About 9.5 thousand people, mostly blacks and mulattoes. Most of the 11 thousand people who lived on Montserrat before 1989 emigrated to England, Canada and other islands of the West Indies from the devastating eruptions of the Soufriere volcano. The southern part of the island, which suffered the brunt of the disaster, is only partially re-populated today, while 90% of the population lives in the northern part of the island, which is almost unaffected by the harmful effects of volcanic activity.
Language: The state language is English. Local English uses many loanwords from Spanish, French, Native American, and various Celtic languages.
Religion: The majority of the population are Christians (Protestants, Anglicans, Methodists, Adventists, etc.).
Economy: The traditional branch of the economy of Montserrat is agriculture, and only half of the land suitable for crop production is used. The main crops cultivated on the island are fruits, citrus fruits (primarily lime), vegetables (peppers, tomatoes), and cotton. From animal husbandry, growing of cattle for export is growing. The seafaring of the Montserrat people is small. About two thousand hectares on the island are covered with forests. In addition to agricultural processing plants, Montserrat also has electronics and electrical appliance assembly plants that account for 60% of export earnings. Tourism takes the leading place in the economy. The island is visited by 40 thousand foreign tourists annually, providing $ 10 million in revenue. The main port of the island is Plymouth, 14 km from which Blackburn Airport is located. The main trading partners of Montserrat are the United States (30% of the value of imports and 90% of the value of exports), the United Kingdom, Canada, Antigua and Barbuda.
Currency: The island's currency is the East Caribbean dollar (equal to 100 cents).
Main attractions: The Indians who first settled on this island around the 10th century BC. e., they called it Allihuagana, which means "Land of the thorny bush." When Columbus discovered the island in 1493, he gave it the name Santa Maria de Montserrat, as the rocky landscape of its coastline reminded him of the mountains above the Montserrat monastery near Barcelona. The first settlers from Europe, mostly Irish Catholics, arrived in Montserrat in 1632, fleeing persecution by the Protestant government of neighboring St. Kitts. By the middle of the 17th century, Montserrat had become a major supplier of sugar to the European market, so in the 17th and 18th centuries thousands of African slaves were imported here to work on plantations, as elsewhere in the British West Indies. During the heyday of the sugar industry (1760s), more than 100 sugar plantations functioned on the island. By the beginning of the 19th century, the state of the sugar market had deteriorated, and with the abolition of slavery (1834), many of the plantations went bankrupt. From 1871 to 1956 the island was part of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands, and after its collapse remained under the jurisdiction of the British crown.
Since its settlement by Europeans, Montserrat has been known as the "Emerald Isle". The landscape of the island itself is conducive to leisurely relaxation - the "calm" and low mountain interior, several interesting historical sites and mesmerizing beaches of black volcanic sand - all this created its unique flavor. The volcanoes lifted from the bottom of the sea by huge planetary changes have left the island so fertile soil that many green forests and emerald green fields have served as shelter for countless animals and birds, and the waters around are inhabited by many species of marine life. However, the Montserrat government never intended to turn the island into a mass tourism destination, so most of its attractions were in the now so popular "wild" form. However, the eruptions of Soufriere created such difficult conditions for travel to the island that most of them will most likely remain in their original state for a very long time. For example, Great Elps Waterfall ("Great Alpine Falls"), formerly one of the most spectacular sights in the West Indies, was completely destroyed by lava flows, and a fair share of the island's resort towns, almost entirely consisting of luxury villas and cottages, standing right on the shores of black beaches, today it is half-buried with volcanic ash with a layer of up to 5 cm or more. Nevertheless, the island is visited by up to 40 thousand foreign tourists annually, providing the local economy with up to $ 10 million in revenue.
The capital of the island, which before the revitalization of Soufriere was one of the most popular tourist ports in the region and had an attractive "Indian" flavor, is now quite abandoned and little visited by tourists. Real clouds of volcanic dust constantly settling on the city have turned its once blooming streets into the Caribbean likeness of the famous Pompeii. The city is still rich in historic mansions and examples of the most exquisite architectural styles created by its history, but the once bustling port and excellent hotels are practically "extinct". Once the island's hub for business and commerce, its streets are now reminiscent of a lunar landscape. This catastrophe, comparable in scale with the eruptions of Santorini or Krakatoa, remained almost unnoticed by the world community, therefore, due to the impossibility of coping with its consequences by the forces of the country itself, the fate of the city remains rather uncertain. Currently, all government offices from it have been transferred to Brades, and visits to Plymouth are only possible with a police escort, but may well be organized privately through Police Headquarters in Brades or through the Montserrat Tourism Office. These tours are organized only during periods of lull in volcanic activity, and due to their particular danger, all tourists visiting the city are charged a "safety tax" of EC $ 150 (approximately $ 55).
One of the few attractions still working in Plymouth is the Montserrat Philatelic Bureau (tel: 491-29-96), which still produces and collects interesting and unusual stamps and other attributes of postage. Located in the same building as the country's National Trust, which also heroically resists the hardships of life in a dilapidated city, it regularly hosts exhibitions of the best examples of stamps and various attributes of postal correspondence, and also sells samples of its products widely known far beyond the borders of the country. The Montserrat National Trust is a non-governmental and non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and development of the island's natural, cultural and historical resources. It is not hard to guess how and in what conditions this fund operates, which has occupied leading positions in the cultural life of the island for almost 35 years. Therefore, tourists usually admire the still functioning Oriol complex, the Natural Science Center with an extensive exposition on the history of the island from pre-Columbian times to the present day (a unique exhibition of photographs of islanders of all eras is still working here, and their voices and messages to descendants can be seen on the exhibits videotapes here), a small library, an excellent garden complex with a variety of local plants and a local arts and crafts store.
One of the most picturesque and dangerous volcanoes in the region, Soufriere, like its many namesakes throughout the Caribbean, has almost entirely shaped the island itself. Its low (up to 900 m) cones form a vast hilly area in the central part of the island, picturesquely lined with narrow gorges and vast lava fields. Visiting the vicinity of the volcano itself is strictly prohibited, it is simply deadly, since its activity is completely unpredictable. However, many surrounding areas are of some interest as a place for organizing unique hiking trips.
On the slopes of the Belam Valley, once a first-class golf course and now completely littered with volcanic slag, lies one of the few relatively safe entry points into the volcanic country, the Daytime Entry Zones. The road to these parts is practically unmarked and passes through rather difficult-to-pass places, so it is better to go here with an experienced guide or driver. From the very ridge above the Daytime Entry Zone, there is an excellent view of Soufriere and its lateral cones, and from the top of St. George's Hill there is a view of Plymouth and the adjacent part of the sea. You can also get here through Garibaldi Hill or Richmond Hill, where the old hotel is located (books, newspapers and other furnishings left by people fleeing in panic are still on its tables). You can also rent a boat and go around the entire southern part of the island by sea, which allows you to more safely assess the size of the disaster.
Both the volcano itself and the volcanic country of Soufriere Volkenik Hill are under constant surveillance by the specially created Montserrat Volcanic Observatory in Flemming's. In addition to carrying out scientific programs to study Soufriere himself and control volcanic activity, the observatory provides the islanders with vital information regarding his activity and carries out an extensive educational program. A special tour is organized twice a week, introducing visitors to the island about MVO activities, as well as showing dramatic video footage of recent eruptions and explaining various aspects of volcanology, seismology and volcanic ecology. Under good conditions, you can even look behind the crater ring or take part in some simple experiments.
In the northeast of the island there is another good point for observing volcanoes - Jack Boy Hill. At the foot of the hill lie the dilapidated complexes of Bramble Airport, an old plantation and several ruined eastern villages, now almost entirely buried under a layer of ash and volcanic rocks, and the cone of the volcano itself serves as the majestic "frame" of this amazing landscape. There is even a small recreation area with picnic areas, an observation telescope, several hiking trails and other amenities.
On the shores of Carrs Bay, lying in the north of the island, there is the Historical Reserve of the same name, on the territory of which there are the ruins of a 17th century fort with several old cannons, whose vents look out to sea, as well as copies of the War Memorial and Clock Tower destroyed in Plymouth. With a bit of luck, you can also see large iguanas living in this picturesque place for many thousands of years. And another object that the islanders are very proud of is located nearby, near the town of Blakes. An ordinary football field, built in 2002 in accordance with all FIFA standards, stretches in a strikingly picturesque place between the seashore and the foothills of the mountains, symbolizing the hope of the inhabitants of the island for its rebirth.
Historical overview: The island was discovered by Columbus (1493). In 1632, exiled Catholics established the first English settlement on the island, named Plymouth, after the famous English city. In the 17th and 18th centuries, England and France competed for the possession of the island. From 1871-1958 Montserrat was part of the possession of the Leeward Islands, and from 1958-1962 it was part of the West Indies Federation. Montserrat is a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Regional Security System.
National domain: .MS
Entry rules: Visa regime. Citizens of the CIS countries must apply to the British Embassy to obtain a visa. To enter, you must have a passport (valid for at least six months) and a visa obtained on the basis of an invitation, as well as, in some cases, confirmation of the ability to pay your expenses. To obtain a visa, you must provide a passport, an invitation (tourist, private or official), two questionnaires with photographs, a certificate from the place of work indicating the position, date of employment and annual income, bank statements, previous passports with visas of different countries and marks about past trips.
Customs regulations: The import of national and foreign currencies is not limited, the declaration is required. The export of local and foreign currencies is limited to the amount declared in the entry declaration.
Allowed duty-free import of up to 200 cigarettes, or 250 grams. tobacco products, or up to 50 cigars; up to 1.13 liters of strong alcoholic beverages; up to 168 gr. perfumery, as well as other goods and things falling under the category of "various gifts", with a total value of up to EC $ 500 ($ 185, import is allowed only once in 12 months).
Weapons and drugs, some medicines and non-canned food are prohibited to be imported into the country. It is prohibited to export without special permission objects and things of historical and artistic value, especially those found at the bottom of the sea, rare species of plants and animals, as well as corals and products made from them.
Island in the north arch. Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea. Discovered in 1493 by Columbus and named Montserrat in honor of the Catholic monastery of Montserrat, located on the mountain of the same name in Spain. Name from Spanish. Monto sagrado sacred mountain. ... ... Geographical encyclopedia
MONTSERRAT- British ownership on the island of the same name, which is part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago. The area of the territory is 102 km2. The population (as of 1998) is 12,828 people, including over 1.3 thousand foreigners, the average density is ... ... Cities and countries
MONTSERRAT- (Montserrat) General Information The official name of Montserrat. Overseas territory of Great Britain on the island of the same name in the West Indies, in the group of the Lesser Antilles. The total area is 102 km2, the population is 4.5 thousand people. (2001). ... ... Encyclopedia of the countries of the world
Montserrat- an island in the northern arch. Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea. Discovered in 1493 by Columbus and named Montserrat in honor of the Catholic monastery of Montserrat, located on the mountain of the same name in Spain. Name from Spanish. Monto sagrado sacred mountain ... Toponymic dictionary
Montserrat- (Montserrat), British possession on the island of the same name in the West Indies, in the Lesser Antilles group. Area 101 km2. Population 12.2 thousand people (1978). The dominant religions are Protestant and Catholic. Official language … … Encyclopedic reference book "Latin America"
Montserrat, about.- (Montserrat) Montserrat, an island in the West Indies, one of the Windward Islands; pl. 102 sq. Km, 12,000 people (1988, estimate); official language - English; ch. city - Plymouth. Visited by Columbus in 1493. and was named after the Benedictine ... ... Countries of the world. Dictionary
- (Montserrat) an island in the West Indies, part of the Lesser Antilles; British ownership. Area 98 km2. Population 12 thousand people. (1971). The administrative center of Plymouth. The main occupation of the population is the cultivation of cotton, bananas ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- (Montserrat) in the West Indies, British possession. The first Antigua brand stamps with the name overprinting. about va issue. in 1876. In 1880 ed. stamps with a portrait of the queen and the name. colonies, 1917 19 military tax stamps, 1932 first commemorative stamps, ... ... Big philatelic dictionary
Montserrat- 1 іmennik of a female family, іstota іm I Montserrat 2 іmennik of a female family of islands in the Antilles archipelazi ... Spelling vocabulary of the Ukrainian language
Montserrat- (Montserrat) Montserrat, mountain, in Catalonia, northeast of Spain, northwest of Barcelona, on which stands a famous Benedictine monastery, founded in the 2nd century. It is believed that the image of the Virgin Mary, which is in it, was carved by St. Luke and brought ... Countries of the world. Dictionary
Books
- Montserrat Caballe. Casta diva, Robert Pullen, Stephen Taylor. The monograph by American authors about the world famous Spanish prima donna attracts with its thoroughness, thoroughness in presenting the material, scrupulousness in collecting all kinds of ...
- Victim Montserrat Catharsis, A. Hellwald, T. Khmelnitskaya. To cope with recently experienced stress, Montserrat Edelstahl, on the advice of a psychologist, goes to a resort in the Indian Ocean. A wonderful atmosphere steeped in romance, and next to ...
These lands were discovered by Christopher Columbus during the second campaign. History Montserrat believes that the first settlers the islands were Caribbean, they called it Samna Maria de Montserrat. Global development began in 1632, when people began to grow tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane.
The troubled history of Montserrat
The island was constantly raided by neighboring states, most of all they wanted to take possession of France and England. But in the end, this is evidenced by the official history of Montserrat, the land remained in the possession of the UK. So culture of Montserrat absorbed the traditions and customs of many peoples.
Capital Montserrat
Until 1997, the center of the state was the city of Plymouth. Upon activation, Soufriere was completely destroyed. The most popular tourist port with an Indian flavor has gone into oblivion. Abandoned streets and constantly settling volcanic smog have turned it into a copy of the famous Pompeii. Today is the capital Montserrat- the city of Brades.
Population of Montserrat
Most of them, about 8 thousand people, are mulattoes and blacks. The main inhabitants of the island, until 1990, moved to Canada and England. Away from the active, at that time, Soufriere volcano. The main blow of the elements fell on the southern part of the island. Nowadays, restoration work is being carried out on this territory by the state's own forces.
State of Montserrat
The island has a peculiar designation of its status - it is the Overseas Territory of Britain, which has its own sovereignty, but the inhabitants have British citizenship. Head of state appointed by the monarch, democratic history the country begins in 1960 at the time of the signing of its own constitution.
Montserrat politics
The constitutional system of the country looks like this: The judiciary and all legal power belongs to the executive council, which is elected for a five-year term.
The Montserrat language
The local dialect uses many different loanwords from Native American, Spanish and French. Official - English.
Before going to Montserrat, I was sure that volcanoes kill, if not lava, then earthquakes. But with a close acquaintance with Montserrat, the Soufriere Hills volcano and the destroyed Plymouth, one has to learn about pyroclastic flows. The magma here is not hot enough to reach the surface of the liquid and spill with lava, so the cooling magma clogs the vent, forming something like a champagne cork. While the eruption continues, the sealed dome is supported by lava from below, the dome grows, and sooner or later an explosion occurs, the top of the volcano flies into the air and falls down, forming a pyroclastic flow - a mixture of volcanic gas, superheated steam, ash and solidified lava (from stones the size of 5 -storey house to ordinary sand). The stream, heated to 500 ° C, rushes downward at a speed of 100 km / h, destroying, of course, everything. Vesuvius, which destroyed Pompeii, and Eyjafjallaekull, which froze European airspace, erupted in the same way. Soufriere Hills last raged in February 2010. Boulders from the cooling magma can be seen rolling down the slopes of the volcano. During the day, the lava looks black. But on a clear night, if the clouds do not cover the top of the volcano and the cloud of sulfur oxides is blown away by the wind, it is noticeable that the erupting stones are still very hot.
Previously, at the foot of the volcano, there was quite a brilliant Caribbean Plymouth. Soufriere Hills slept for 400 years and suddenly woke up 15 years ago, in 1995, to completely change the life of the island, destroying its capital and only city (now there is not a single city or village resembling a city on the island - a solid "one-story America" ). The population decreased from 13,000 to 5,000 (there were almost no deaths, people left the island during the evacuation or on their own, but many did not return: housing was destroyed, and the tourist-oriented economy fell into decay).
And this is Plymouth today. The vaporous Soufriere Hills in the background. People abandoned the city in 1997, after a series of eruptions.
Some years ago, it was still possible to get to Plymouth by land, and a visit to the destroyed city became a ritual for the locals (for whom the loss of the capital, most of the country's real estate and almost the entire tourist business is a national tragedy) and an attraction for tourists. Things have been tightened up these days, and viewing Plymouth from a boat or helicopter is the only legal option left. You can get pretty close by boat, but you can't stop.
Visits are closed due to the danger of pyroclastic flows: if the eruption has already begun, then at a flow rate of 100 km / h it will not be possible to escape from it. In 1997, 19 people died in this way.
To ensure that no one breaks this rule, the coast is patrolled by the police. By the way, the police, as elsewhere in the post-British world, are "checkered".
Since then, the volcano has been erupting intermittently, but people somehow learned to live next to it. The island has the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), which constantly measures the activity of the volcano, and a sophisticated civil defense system. Montserrat is divided into zones marked with letters (A, B, ...) with different statuses, the observatory, based on observations, assigns a "hazard level" from 1 to 5 (now the "hazard level" is 3). Depending on the "level of danger" in different zones, some kind of activity is allowed or prohibited: somewhere you can live and do anything, fearing only the fall of ash from the sky and Caribbean cyclones; somewhere you can live for those who already live, but be ready for evacuation; somewhere it is impossible for anyone to be at all, except for specialists. In every house there is usually a silent battery-powered radio, through which an evacuation alert can be transmitted at any time - in a sense, an analogue of our radio point (which, as we know, the main purpose is to alert to civil defense and emergency situations). Most of the island (zone V), regardless of the level of danger, is always closed for normal human life.
Details Category: North American Dependent Territories Posted on 07/11/2014 11:16 AM Hits: 1396Montserrat is an overseas territory of Great Britain, located on the island of the same name in the Caribbean.
Montserrat in the Caribbean
State symbols
Flag- is a blue cloth, the upper left quarter of which is occupied by the national flag of Great Britain, and in the center of the right half is the coat of arms of Montserrat.
The flag of the Governor of Montserrat is the flag of Great Britain with the coat of arms of Montserrat in the center. The flag was adopted in 1909.
Coat of arms- consists of a shield, which depicts a woman in green, the heroine of the Irish epic Erin, a female personification of Ireland, based on the mythology of Eriu. She holds the golden harp, the symbol of Ireland, which appears on the coat of arms of Ireland, and hugs the cross, the symbol of Christianity.
The coat of arms pays tribute to the Irish origin of the first settlers of Montserrat, exiled to the island by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century. The coat of arms was adopted in 1909.
State structure
Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.
Head of state- the monarch of Great Britain represented by the governor appointed by the monarch.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Capital- Plymouth (de jure), Brades (de facto). After the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano, the city of Plymouth was abandoned, now the temporary administrative center is located in the village of Brades in the north of the island.
The largest city- Plymouth
Since July 1995, there has been a series of powerful eruptions from the Soufriere Hills volcano, which poured lava and ash over large areas of southern Montserrat, including Plymouth, and residents were evacuated in December. A few months later, they were allowed to return, but on June 25, 1997, during a powerful eruption, 19 people died, the pyroclastic material almost reached the airport. Plymouth was evacuated again. More than ⅔ of the population left the island. The Montserrat government has moved to Brades, but Plymouth is still de jure the administrative center.
Plymouth after the volcanic eruption
Official language- English.
Territory- 102 km².
Airport runway on Montserrat
Administrative division- 3 parishes.
Population- 4922 people 8 thousand people left the island during volcanic activity in 1995, after which some of them returned. Until now, the southern half of the island is closed to the public. The population is mainly of African and mixed descent.
Religion- the majority are Protestants, part of the population is Catholics.
Currency- East Caribbean dollar.
Economy- was based mainly on tourism. Rum, textiles, assembly of electronic devices were produced. Agriculture: sugarcane, cotton, citrus fruits, bananas, mangoes, avocados, coconuts, vegetables were grown, cattle were raised in small quantities. After volcanic activity in 1995 and the evacuation of a large part of the population, economic activity dropped sharply. In recent years, the population has begun to return, but funds have to be spent on rebuilding housing, infrastructure and farmland.
Education- universal compulsory and free for children aged 5 to 15 years.
Sport- cricket and football are popular.
Nature
In the mountains, tropical rainforests have been preserved. Streams flow from them, forming waterfalls.
The vegetation is mainly shrubs, and in the mountainous areas, humid tropical forests, consisting of mangroves, have survived in small quantities.
The fauna is not very diverse, represented mainly by birds. The island is home to one of the unique species of birds - the subspecies of the oriole, which is a national symbol. Lots of pelicans, flamingos and frigates.
There are quite a few turtles, including sea turtles, which lay eggs on land.
Climatic conditions are favorable for human life, trade winds from the ocean moderate the heat. Sunny weather prevails with little temperature variation throughout the year.
"Mountain Chicken" - Giant Frog ditch is an endangered species and is found only in the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat. Hunting, loss of habitat and outbreaks of fungal diseases have wiped out most of the species' population.
Attractions of the island of Montserrat
This is, first of all, the nature of the island, the unique black beaches, consisting of the products of the volcanic eruption, and the historical and national reserve on the coast of the Carr's Bay, where you can visit the ruins of the old guard fort of the 17th century. and the old clock tower. The mountain monastery, built at an altitude of 725 m above sea level, also attracts tourists.
The most famous natives of Montserrat are cricketers Jim Allen and Lionel Baker, as well as a member of the group "Boney M" Maisie Williams.
History
In ancient times, the island was inhabited by the Caribbean Indians, who called their island "Allihuagana", that is, "the land of thorny bushes."
The island was discovered by Columbus in 1493 and named after the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat in the mountains of the same name in Catalonia.
In 1632, the first English settlement of Plymouth was founded on the island by exiled Catholics. Negro slaves were soon brought here to work on sugarcane plantations.
In the XVII-XVIII centuries. England and France competed for the possession of the island, and in 1783 Montserrat finally became the possession of Great Britain.
In the years 1871-1958. Montserrat was part of the possession of the Leeward Islands, and in 1958-1962. to the West Indies Federation.
On June 25, 1995, the catastrophic eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano began. The affected half of Montserrat is expected to be uninhabited for at least another 10 years.
The city of Plymouth after the volcanic eruption
The inhabitants of the island do not fight for independence, wanting to remain under the crown of Great Britain.
