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Montserrat (UK)
"Modern Day Pompeii" in Caribbean
Montserrat is a british territory in Caribbean. The island measures approximately 16 km (10 mi) long and 11 km (7 mi) wide and 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. 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, leaving fewer than 1,200 people on the island.
The city of Plymouth and the entire south of the island are in Zone V (like Volcano) and called the Exclusion Zone. The access to this area is strictly managed to ensure safe and rapid evacuation, should there be volcanic activity. Visits require absolutely the police permission and the company of an authorized tour guide.
BEST TIME to VISIT
Montserrat
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to Plymouth
from January to April
house with an amazing view
big iguana
rocky beach
Bird's eye on the island
blue caribbean style shop
bird's eye before landing
Volcanic landscape
new colorful houses - The population which were living in the southern part of the island had to move to the northern part. Nobody is allowed (except with an authorized guide) to go or to live in the Exclusion zone around the volcano.
The volcano is behind this mountain.
View on the ashes left by the last eruptions which had increase the size of the island, gained on the sea.
colorful houses
old anglican church
Zone V - Plymouth - Heading to the ex-capital of the island. Road is covered by ashes and all houses or building have been abandoned.
Zone V - Heading to Plymouth - a policeman was with us, as well as an authorized guide. The policeman is opening the entrance gate to the Exclusion Zone.
Zone V - Plymouth - one house is surrounded and almost covered by the lush vegetation
Zone V - Plymouth - No more access to this house as Mother Nature took back its rights
Zone V - Plymouth - a bakery and another shop surrounded by the vegetation
Zone V - Plymouth - our guide has a picture of the pool of this hotel and it had change a lot. It's unbelievable.
Zone V - Plymouth - Inside an house - People had to left quickly and they left their houses with the most of their belongings, including furniture and appliances.
Zone V - Plymouth - the hotel reception - all books and a machine were left.
Zone V - Plymouth - Accounting book left
Zone V - Plymouth - the church was also destroyed
Zone V - Plymouth - have a look to the boulders expelled by the volcano and compare them to the buildings.
Zone V - Plymouth - the old Sugar Mill is almost intact when most of the modern houses and buildings are damaged or destroyed.
Zone V - Plymouth - a church abandoned and surrounded by vegetation.
Zone V - Plymouth - Furniture was left in most cases.
Zone V - Plymouth - Books in an house
Zone V - Plymouth - Bedroom in an house
Zone V - Plymouth - these boulders have been expelled by the volcano and evacuate the city was the only option
Zone V - Plymouth - Destroyed buildings (hotel on the left) and the volcano
The airport was also destroyed and was replaced by this small airstrip
Zone V - Plymouth - view of the volcano. Even the beach disappared covered by ashes
Zone V - Plymouth - the volcano covered with clouds
Zone V - Plymouth - a destroyed building - most of the storeys are buried under ashes and we can see only the highest.
Zone V - Plymouth - desolation landscape
Bird's eye on the island
new city : the paintings of the old Plymouth buildings as a reminder of the past
landscape with a bay and a small marina
old british canons were helpless against eruptions
Lush lanscape