Montserrat
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Montserrat
Country name - conventional long form : none
Country name - conventional short form : Montserrat
Country name - local long form :
Country name - local short form :
Country name - former :
Country code : MH
Government type : NA
Capital - name : Plymouth
Capital - time difference : UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Population :
Nationality - noun : Montserratian(s)
Nationality - adjective : Montserratian
Languages : English
Currency (code) : East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code : XCD
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
Montserrat is located Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico. The climate is tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation. The terrain is volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
