Montserrat

Where is Montserrat?

Montserrat is a British Oversees Territory in the Caribbean and is part of the Leeward Islands, the northern portion of the Lesser Antilles chain of the West Indies. Montserrat is about 16 km (10 mi) long and 11 km (7 mi) wide, with roughly 40 km (25 mi) of coastline. It 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. In 1493, Christopher Columbus named the island Santa María de Montserrate, after the Virgin of Montserrat in the Monastery of Montserrat, on Montserrat mountain, near Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. "Montserrat" means "serrated mountain" in Catalan.

Why Montserrat?

Montserrat has a unique, recent volcanic history that is accessible and well-documented. 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, primarily to the United Kingdom, leaving fewer than 1,200 people on the island in 1997 (rising to nearly 5,000 by 2016). The volcanic activity continues, mostly affecting the vicinity of Plymouth, including its docking facilities, and the eastern side of the island around the former W.H. Bramble Airport, the remnants of which were buried by flows from volcanic activity on 11 February 2010.

What Will I See in Montserrat?

Pumice flows

Pyroclastic flows

Ash and bomb sequences

Survival strategies!

Coral surveying

Tropical medicinal flowers

Exploring buried city of Plymouth

Montserrat history and volcano warning systems

Primary and secondary succession

Exploring buried Bramble airport

Beach and near shore environments

What Geology Should I Know BEFORE Going to Montserrat?

Distinguish between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
Describe rock properties
Know basics of brunton compass
Understand processes and types of plate tectonic boundaries
Describe eruption history and processes
Identify different kinds of folds and faults

Describe and survey pyroclastic flows
Understand earthquake processes (waves), damage, and tsunamis
Describe cave formation and landforms
Describe near shore environments, including coral reef
Understand regional geology in Caribbean
Understand spatial and temporal scales (rates)

What Makes a Visit to Montserrat Unique?

Meeting Locals ("Bush Rum Lady")

Visiting Many Beaches

Volunteering

Exploring Buried Towns

Exploring Stunning Landscapes

Enjoying Cold Drinks after Snorkeling

Chatting with the Governor

Working with Scientists

Enjoying Coffee at Hilltop Cafe

Accommodation and Transportation

Accommodation in Montserrat is limited, so two full furnished apartments housed the student group. This included a stunning view of the volcano and a nice pool. Access to food and other sites require a walk or even hiring a taxi, but the island is walkable.

Each day is spent driving from accommodation to specific sites, done with several cars rented from a local. Driving in Montserrat is pretty easy, as there are few roads, but a lot of rolling hills and beautiful forest and beach views. Access to the exclusion zones (Plymouth and Bramble airport) were done with escort from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.