 Map of Montserrat | |
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Caribbean Sea |
| Coordinates | 16°45′N62°12′W / 16.750°N 62.200°W /16.750; -62.200 |
| Archipelago | Leeward Islands |
| Area | 102 km2 (39 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 39.8 km (24.73 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 914.2 m (2999.3 ft) |
| Highest point | Chances Peak (in theSoufrière Hills) |
| Administration | |
United Kingdom | |
| British Overseas Territory | Montserrat |
| Largest settlement | Brades (pop. 1,000) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 4,488 |
| Pop. density | 44.88/km2 (116.24/sq mi) |
Montserrat is avolcanic island in theCaribbean Sea. Part of theLeeward Islands, it is aBritish Overseas Territory. Covering an area of 102 km2 (39 sq mi), it is located to the northwest ofGuadeloupe, southwest ofAntigua and southeast ofNevis. The island’s terrain is mostly mountainous, dominated by the activeSoufrière Hills volcano rising to about 1,050 m (3,440 ft). The island has atropical climate with minimal temperature variations and frequently experienceshurricanes from June to November. Due to repeated volcanic activity, more than half of the island is now permanently uninhabitable, primarily in the south, leaving only the northern third settled.
Montserrat is avolcanic island in theLeeward Islands of theCaribbean, and forms a part of theBritish Overseas Territory. Covering an area of 102 km2 (39 sq mi), the island has a 40 km (25 mi) long coastline. About 16 km (9.9 mi) long and 11 km (6.8 mi) wide, it is situated approximately 40 km (25 mi) southwest ofAntigua, 56 km (35 mi) northwest ofGuadeloupe, and southeast ofNevis.[1]
The island’s terrain is mostly mountainous, dominated by the activeSoufrière Hills volcano. It rises to about 1,050 m (3,440 ft) post the eruption and subsequent dome formation in 1995.[1] The island features two other major volcanic systems Silver Hills, and Centre Hills. The mostly mountainous interior is flanked by coastal lowlands.[2] The Soufrière Hills volcano caused widespread devastation, including the destruction of the capital and formerly largest settlement on the island,Plymouth in 1995, and made the southern part of the island uninhabitable. Human settlement is constrained to the northern one-third of the island.[1]
About 30% of the land supportedagriculture, and 25% is covered with forests.[1] The island vegetation ranges frommangroves and dry scrub in coastal plains toevergreen andmontane forests in upland areas.[2] The island has no major rivers or lakes, and water runoff occurs through seasonal ravines from highlands to the sea.[2]
Montserrat featurestropical rainforest climate (Af inKöppen classification) with consistently warm temperatures. Annual rainfall varies from 1,016 mm (40.0 in) at lower altitudes to over 2,540 mm (100 in) at higher altitudes.[2] The island is prone to frequent natural hazards such ashurricanes, and occasionalearthquakes.[1][2]
| Climate data for Plymouth | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) | 34 (93) | 34 (93) | 36 (97) | 37 (99) | 37 (99) | 37 (99) | 36 (97) | 34 (93) | 37 (99) | 33 (91) | 37 (99) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) | 33 (91) | 32 (90) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 31 (88) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 17 (63) | 18 (64) | 18 (64) | 18 (64) | 19 (66) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 19 (66) | 19 (66) | 18 (64) | 17 (63) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 122 (4.8) | 86 (3.4) | 112 (4.4) | 89 (3.5) | 97 (3.8) | 112 (4.4) | 155 (6.1) | 183 (7.2) | 168 (6.6) | 196 (7.7) | 180 (7.1) | 140 (5.5) | 1,640 (64.6) |
| Source: BBC Weather[3] | |||||||||||||
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Dependencies and other territories | ||