Plymouth (Plymouth)
Constructed on historical lava deposits near the then long-inactive Soufrière Hills volcano, the town was evacuated in 1995 when the volcano resumed erupting. Plymouth was eventually abandoned permanently in 1997 after it was substantially buried by a series of pyroclastic flows and lahars. For centuries, it had been the only port of entry to the island. Plymouth is still the de jure capital of Montserrat, making it the only ghost town that is the capital of a political territory. A new capital is under construction at Little Bay, with nearby Brades serving as the de facto capital for the time being.
Map - Plymouth (Plymouth)
Map
Country - Montserrat
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.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
---|---|---|---|
XCD | East Caribbean dollar | $ | 2 |
ISO | Language |
---|---|
EN | English language |