Montserrat Island Guide – The Emerald Isle
Montserrat as a sleepy, fairy-tale island. The island was ravished 1995 when the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted, destorying the town of Plymouth.
Though the volcano still murmurs occasionally (plumes of ash are visible from as far as Antigua), locals joke that new beachfront is being created. The volcano itself is an ecotourism spot drawing travelers curious to see the awesome devastation. Ironically, other fringe benefits exist. Volcanic deposits enriched the already fertile soil; locals claim their fruit and vegetable crops have increased and improved. The slightly warmer waters have attracted even more-varied marine life for divers and snorkelers to appreciate, along with new underwater rock formations.