Editing Montserrat (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Coastal cliffs.jpg|thumb|Montserrat's coastline]]
{{Main|Geography of Montserrat}}

The island of Montserrat is located approximately {{convert|25|mi}} southwest of [[Antigua]], {{convert|13|mi}} southeast of [[Redonda]] (a small island owned by [[Antigua and Barbuda]]), and {{convert|35|mi}} northwest of the French overseas region of [[Guadeloupe]]. Beyond Redonda lies the island of [[Nevis]] (which is part of the federation of [[St Kitts and Nevis]]), about {{convert|30|mi}} to the north-west.

Montserrat comprises {{convert|104|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and is gradually increasing owing to the buildup of volcanic deposits on the southeast coast. The island is {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide and consists of a mountainous interior surrounded by a flatter littoral region, with rock cliffs rising {{convert|15|to|30|m|ft|abbr=on}} above the sea and a number of smooth bottomed sandy beaches scattered among [[cove]]s on the western (Caribbean Sea) side of the island.

The major mountains are (from north to south) [[Silver Hill, Montserrat|Silver Hill]], [[Katy Hill, Montserrat|Katy Hill]] in the Centre Hills range, the [[Soufrière Hills]] and the [[South Soufriere Hills|South Soufrière Hills]].<ref name="auto2"/> The Soufrière Hills [[volcano]] is the island's highest point; its pre-1995 height was {{convert|915|m}}. However, it has grown after the eruption due to the creation of a [[lava dome]], with its current height being estimated at {{convert|1050|m}}.<ref name="cia.gov" />

The 2011 estimate by the CIA indicates that 30% of the island's land is classified as agricultural, 20% as arable, 25% as forest and the balance as "other".<ref name="cia.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/montserrat/|title=Central America :: Montserrat — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|website=Cia.gov|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-date=18 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218004435/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/montserrat/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Montserrat has a few tiny off-shore islands, such as [[Little Redonda]] off its north coast and [[Pinnacle Rock, Montserrat|Pinnacle Rock]] and [[Statue Rock]] off its east.

=== Volcano and exclusion zone ===
[[File:Montserrat Salem Eruption1.jpg|thumb|right|Eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano on 22 September 1997]]
[[File:Montserrat eruption.JPG|thumb|[[Plymouth, Montserrat|Plymouth City]] (former capital and major port of Montserrat) on 12 July 1997, after [[pyroclastic flow]]s burned much of what was not covered in ash]]
[[File:Soufriere Hills Volcano dome collapse.gif|thumb|False-colour time-lapse images of the Soufrière Hills volcanic dome collapse in 2010, from [[NASA]]]]
[[File:Plymouth City & Volcano.jpg|thumb|upright|Devastated Plymouth City and volcano (2003)]]

In July 1995, Montserrat's Soufrière Hills volcano, dormant for centuries, erupted and soon buried the island's capital, Plymouth, in more than {{convert|12|m|ft}} of mud, destroyed its airport and docking facilities, and rendered the southern part of the island, now termed the exclusion zone, uninhabitable and not safe for travel. The southern part of the island was evacuated and visits are severely restricted.<ref>{{cite book |last=Leonard |first=T. M. |year=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of the Developing World |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadeve00leon |url-access=limited |publisher=Routledge |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadeve00leon/page/n1121 1083] |isbn=978-1-57958-388-0}}</ref> The exclusion zone also includes two sea areas adjacent to the land areas of most volcanic activity.<ref name="mvo.ms"/>

After the destruction of Plymouth and disruption of the economy, more than half of the population left the island, which also lacked housing. During the late 1990s, additional eruptions occurred. On 25 June 1997, a pyroclastic flow travelled down Mosquito Ghaut. This [[pyroclastic surge]] could not be restrained by the [[ghat|ghaut]] (a steep revine leading to the sea) and spilled out of it, killing 19 people who were in the (officially evacuated) Streatham village area. Several others in the area suffered severe burns.

[[British nationality law]] has changed over time with respect to the status granted to Montserrat residents. In recognition of the disaster, in 1998, the people of Montserrat were granted full residency rights in the United Kingdom, allowing them to migrate if they chose. [[British citizenship]] was granted in 2002 to [[British Overseas Territories citizen]]s in Montserrat and all but one other British Overseas Territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-overseas-territories-citizen |title=Types of British nationality: British overseas territories citizen |website=British Government |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523172836/https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-overseas-territories-citizen |url-status=live }}</ref>

For a number of years in the early 2000s, the volcano's activity consisted mostly of infrequent ventings of [[Volcanic ash|ash]] into the uninhabited areas in the south. The ash falls occasionally extended into the northern and western parts of the island. In the most recent period of increased activity at the Soufrière Hills volcano, from November 2009 through February 2010, ash vented and there was a [[Vulcanian eruption|vulcanian explosion]] that sent [[pyroclastic flow]]s down several sides of the mountain. Travel into parts of the exclusion zone was occasionally allowed, though only by a licence from the Royal Montserrat Police Force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/montserrat |title=Montserrat (British Overseas Territory) travel advice |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=19 December 2012 |work=Travel & living abroad |publisher=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] |access-date=31 December 2012 |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628060426/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/montserrat |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2014 the area has been split into multiple subzones with varying entry and use restrictions, based on volcanic activity: some areas even being (in 2020) open 24 hours and inhabited. The most dangerous zone, which includes the former capital, remains forbidden to casual visitors due to volcanic and other hazards, especially due to the lack of maintenance in destroyed areas. It is legal to visit this area when accompanied by a government-authorised guide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mvoms.org/pub/Hazard_Level_System/HLS-20140801.pdf |title=Montserrat Hazard Level System Zones |publisher=Montserrat Volcanic Observatory |date=1 August 2014 |access-date=21 August 2021 |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628060429/http://mvoms.org/pub/Hazard_Level_System/HLS-20140801.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitmontserrat.com/montserrat-history-facts/|title=Montserrat History & Facts|access-date=10 October 2022|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530163641/https://www.visitmontserrat.com/montserrat-history-facts/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The northern part of Montserrat has largely been unaffected by volcanic activity, and remains lush and green. In February 2005, [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]] officially opened what is now called the [[John A. Osborne Airport]] in the north. Since 2011, it handles several flights daily operated by [[FlyMontserrat|Fly Montserrat Airways]]. Docking facilities are in place at Little Bay, where the new capital town is being constructed; the new government centre is at Brades, a short distance away.

=== Wildlife ===
{{Further|List of birds of Montserrat|List of mammals of Montserrat|List of amphibians and reptiles of Montserrat}}
[[File:Icterus oberi.jpg|right|thumb|Montserrat oriole, the official bird of the island]]
Montserrat, like many isolated islands, is home to rare, [[endemic]] plant and animal species. Work undertaken by the Montserrat National Trust in collaboration with the [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] has centred on the conservation of pribby (''[[Rondeletia buxifolia]]'') in the Centre Hills region. Until 2006, this species was known only from one book about the vegetation of Montserrat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/the-montserrat-pribby-part-one.htm |title=The 'Montserrat pribby' (part one) |first=Nick |last=Johnson |work=kew.org |date=22 October 2010 |access-date=30 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222184551/http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/the-montserrat-pribby-part-one.htm |archive-date=22 February 2014 }}</ref> In 2006, conservationists also rescued several plants of the endangered Montserrat orchid (''[[Epidendrum montserratense]]'') from dead trees on the island and installed them in the security of the island's botanic garden.

Montserrat is also home to the critically endangered [[Leptodactylus fallax|giant ditch frog]] (''Leptodactylus fallax''), known locally as the mountain chicken, found only in Montserrat and [[Dominica]]. The species has undergone catastrophic declines due to the amphibian disease [[Chytridiomycosis]] and the volcanic eruption in 1997. Experts from [[Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust]] have been working with the Montserrat Department of Environment to conserve the frog [[In-situ conservation|in-situ]] in a project called "Saving the Mountain Chicken",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amphibians.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Mountain-Chicken-SAP-2014-working-draft-FINAL.pdf |title=Saving the Mountain Chicken:A Long-Term Recovery Strategy for the Critically Endangered mountain chicken 2014-2034 |website=Amphibians.org |access-date=20 March 2018 |archive-date=2 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802070923/http://www.amphibians.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Mountain-Chicken-SAP-2014-working-draft-FINAL.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and an [[Ex-situ conservation|ex-situ]] captive breeding population has been set up in partnership with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, [[Zoological Society of London]], [[Chester Zoo]], Parken Zoo, and the Governments of Montserrat and Dominica. Releases from this programme have already taken place in a hope to increase the numbers of the frog and reduce extinction risk from Chytridiomycosis.

The national bird is the endemic [[Montserrat oriole]] (''Icterus oberi'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkive.org/montserrat-oriole/icterus-oberi/image-G55454.html |title=Montserrat oriole photo - ''Icterus oberi'' - G55454 |website=Arkive.org |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130042225/http://www.arkive.org/montserrat-oriole/icterus-oberi/image-G55454.html/ |archive-date=30 November 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[IUCN Red List]] classifies it as vulnerable, having previously listed it as critically endangered.<ref>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2017 |amends=2017 |title=''Icterus oberi'' |volume=2017 |page=e.T22724147A119465859 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22724147A119465859.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> Captive populations are held in several zoos in the UK including: Chester Zoo, [[London Zoo]], [[Jersey Zoo]] and [[Edinburgh Zoo]].

The [[Montserrat galliwasp]] (''Diploglossus montisserrati''), a type of lizard, is endemic to Montserrat and is listed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered.<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Daltry, J.C. |year=2016 |errata=2017 |title=''Diploglossus montisserrati'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T6638A115082920 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T6638A71739597.en |access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkive.org/montserrat-galliwasp/diploglossus-montisserrati |title=Montserrat galliwasp videos, photos and facts - ''Diploglossus montisserrati'' |website=Arkive.org |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203013844/http://www.arkive.org/montserrat-galliwasp/diploglossus-montisserrati/ |archive-date=3 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A species action plan has been developed for this species.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.durrell.org/library/document/galliwasp_sap.pdf |last=Corry |first=E. |display-authors=etal |title=A Species Action Plan for the Montserrat galliwasp: ''Diploglossus montisserrati'' |publisher=Department of Environment, Montserrat |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-9559034-5-8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209022739/https://www.durrell.org/library/document/galliwasp_sap.pdf |archive-date=9 February 2017}}</ref>

In 2005, a biodiversity assessment for the Centre Hills was conducted. To support the work of local conservationists, a team of international partners, including Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]] and [[Montana State University]], carried out extensive surveys and collected biological data.<ref name="durrell.org">{{cite web |url=https://www.durrell.org/library/document/durrell_cons_monograph_1_full_report.pdf |title=A biodiversity assessment of the Centre Hills, Montserrat |editor-first=Richard P. |editor-last=Young |year=2008 |series=Durrell Conservation Monograph No. 1 |website=Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust |access-date=23 June 2016 |archive-date=6 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406164925/http://www.durrell.org/library/Document/Durrell_Cons_Monograph_1_Full_Report.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Researchers from Montana State University found that the invertebrate fauna was particularly rich on the island. The report found that the number of invertebrate species known to occur in Montserrat is 1241. The number of known beetle species is 718 species from 63 families. It is estimated that 120 invertebrates are endemic to Montserrat.<ref name="durrell.org"/>

Montserrat is known for its coral reefs and its caves along the shore. These caves house many species of bats, and efforts are underway to monitor and protect the ten species of bats from extinction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sei.org/bats |title=Bats |publisher=Sustainable Ecosystems Institute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122348/http://www.sei.org/bats |archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238734567 |title=Bats of Montserrat: Population Fluctuation and Response to Hurricanes and Volcanoes, 1978–2005 |first1=Scott C. |last1=Pedersen |first2=Gary G. |last2=Kwiecinski |first3=Peter A. |last3=Larsen |first4=Matthew N. |last4=Morton |first5=Rick A. |last5=Adams |first6=Hugh H. |last6=Genoways |first7=Vicki J. |last7=Swier |website=[[ResearchGate]] |date=1 January 2009 |access-date=31 July 2011 |name-list-style=amp |archive-date=6 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106014557/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238734567 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Montserrat tarantula (''[[Cyrtopholis femoralis]]'') is the only species of tarantula native to the island. It was first bred in captivity at the Chester Zoo in August 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chesterzoo.org/whats-happening/zoo-news/2016/08/montserrat-tarantulas-hatch |title=Montserrat tarantulas hatch in 'world first' |date=12 August 2016 |website=Chester Zoo |access-date=19 August 2016 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817164422/http://www.chesterzoo.org/whats-happening/zoo-news/2016/08/montserrat-tarantulas-hatch |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Panorama---Montserrat.jpg|center|thumb|640x640px|Northern coast of Montserrat ]]

=== Climate ===
Montserrat has a [[tropical rainforest climate]] (''Af'' according to the [[Köppen climate classification]]) with the temperature being warm and consistent year-round, and lots of precipitation. Summer and autumn are wetter because of [[Atlantic hurricane]]s.

{{Weather box
|width = auto 
|collapsed=yes
|location = Plymouth
|metric first = yes
|single line=yes
|Jan record high C = 32
|Feb record high C = 33
|Mar record high C = 34
|Apr record high C = 34
|May record high C = 36
|Jun record high C = 37
|Jul record high C = 37
|Aug record high C = 37
|Sep record high C = 36
|Oct record high C = 34
|Nov record high C = 37
|Dec record high C = 33
|year record high C = 37
|Jan high C = 29
|Feb high C = 30
|Mar high C = 31
|Apr high C = 31
|May high C = 32
|Jun high C = 32
|Jul high C = 33
|Aug high C = 33
|Sep high C = 32
|Oct high C = 31
|Nov high C = 30
|Dec high C = 29
|Jan low C = 23
|Feb low C = 23
|Mar low C = 24
|Apr low C = 24
|May low C = 24
|Jun low C = 25
|Jul low C = 25
|Aug low C = 25
|Sep low C = 24
|Oct low C = 24
|Nov low C = 24
|Dec low C = 23
|Jan record low C = 17
|Feb record low C = 18
|Mar record low C = 18
|Apr record low C = 18
|May record low C = 19
|Jun record low C = 21
|Jul record low C = 22
|Aug record low C = 22
|Sep record low C = 21
|Oct record low C = 19
|Nov record low C = 19
|Dec record low C = 18
|Jan precipitation mm = 122
|Feb precipitation mm = 86
|Mar precipitation mm = 112
|Apr precipitation mm = 89
|May precipitation mm = 97
|Jun precipitation mm = 112
|Jul precipitation mm = 155
|Aug precipitation mm = 183
|Sep precipitation mm = 168
|Oct precipitation mm = 196
|Nov precipitation mm = 180
|Dec precipitation mm = 140
|year precipitation mm = 1640
|source 1 = BBC Weather<ref name="weather1 plymouth">{{cite web
| url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT003230 | title =Average Conditions Plymouth, Montserrat| access-date =14 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130154142/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT003230 |url-status=dead |archive-date= 30 November 2010
| publisher =BBC Weather }}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}