The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean and its volcano
Montserrat is known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean for its green hills and Irish heritage, which shows in its St Patrick's festival and the shamrock stamped on arrival. From 1995, eruptions of the Soufrière Hills volcano buried the capital, Plymouth, and the southern part of the island remains an exclusion zone. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory and viewpoints such as Jack Boy Hill look over the ash-covered landscape. The north is quiet and green, with hiking trails, black-sand beaches and good diving.