The Caribbean Island of Montserrat is commonly referred to as the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean”. A fascinating history and rich environment define some of the qualities of Montserrat.
The island is tiny at just twelve miles in length and a little over six miles wide but the people who visit this island in the Caribbean come to experience its Irish history and the natural environment.
Before the twentieth century Montserrat was known as Alliouagana (Land of the Prickly Bush) and populated by the Carib Natives and Arawak tribes. Once Christopher Columbus came upon the island on his 2nd voyage in 1493, he gave it its current name Santa María de Montserrat, after the Monastery of Montserrat in northeastern Spain, after likening it to the mountain landscapes near the Spanish Monastery.
The Island fell under British Control in 1632 when Anti – catholic violence in Nevis forced a group of Irish, many of whom had been unwillingly transported from Ireland as indentured Servants, to settle i Montserrat.
A Neo- Feudel Colony developed. The importation of African slaves, common to most Caribbean Islands, began early and an economy based on Sugar, Rum, Arrowroot and Sea Island Cotton was established using slave labour. By the late 1700s there were many plantations on the island.
This would eventually transition Montserrat into a plantation based country, just like most of the islands in the West Indies. Sugar continued to thrive throughout the seventeenth century until its decline in the 1800s.
Montserrat has two volcanoes known as Chance’s Peak and Soufriere Hills. The latter has erupted as early as 2004 which has forced Montserrat to remain vigilant. Most experts are able to accurately predict what kind of effect a volcanic eruption will have which has made Montserrat tourism much safer. The island is also split into three zones (Safe Zone, Daytime Entry Zone and Exclusion Zone) to further ensure safety. Despite the perceivable danger, Soufriere Hills and its dramatic landscapes shaped by eruptions remains one of the visual highlights of the island. Visitors can visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory to get an in depth look into the island’s history as well as view footage of its biggest eruptions.
A significant effort has been made to erase Montserrat’s unpredictably dangerous image. The island continues to develop its commercial businesses and its natural landscapes are often regarded as brilliantly green and “extraordinarily scenic”, two qualities that have earned Montserrat its nickname. The island also continues to expand its new capital which will be erected to ensure it remains completely out of volcanic reach.
The people of Montserrat speak English tinged with a slight Irish accent. Cricket and soccer are the most popular sports while traditional Caribbean musical genres like calypso are the most widely appreciated styles. Montserratians also practice something called “jumbie dance”, an intriguing tradition where humans offer food and wine to unseen entities (a jumbie) and dance until they’re possessed by a jumbie. Also, if you’re looking to get a glimpse of Montserrat history, the locals can tell you some truly fascinating stories.
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