Geography of Montserrat

{{Short description|none}} {{Infobox islands | name = Montserrat | image_name = Montserrat map - CIA World Factbook 2021.jpg | image_caption = Map of Montserrat | image_size = | map_image = LocationMontserrat.png | map_caption = | native_name = | native_name_link = | nickname = | location = Caribbean Sea | coordinates = {{coord|16|45|N|62|12|W|display=inline}} | archipelago = Leeward Islands | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_km2 = 102 | length_km = | width_km = | coastline_km = 39.8 | highest_mount = Chances Peak (in the Soufrière Hills) | elevation_m = 914.2 | country = United Kingdom | country_admin_divisions_title = British Overseas Territory | country_admin_divisions = Montserrat | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = | country_admin_divisions_1 = | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = | country_admin_divisions_2 = | country_largest_city = Brades | country_largest_city_population = 1,000 | population = 4,488 | population_as_of = | density_km2 = 44.88 | ethnic_groups = | additional_info = }} thumb|Map of Montserrat

Montserrat is a volcanic island in the Caribbean Sea. Part of the Leeward Islands, it is a British Overseas Territory. Covering an area of {{cvt|102|km2}}, it is located to the northwest of Guadeloupe, southwest of Antigua and southeast of Nevis. The island’s terrain is mostly mountainous, dominated by the active Soufrière Hills volcano rising to about {{cvt|1050|m}}. The island has a tropical climate with minimal temperature variations and frequently experiences hurricanes 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.

== Location == Montserrat is a volcanic island in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, and forms a part of the British Overseas Territory. Covering an area of {{cvt|102|km2}}, the island has a {{cvt|40|km}} long coastline. About {{cvt|16|km}} long and {{cvt|11|km}} wide, it is situated approximately {{cvt|40|km}} southwest of Antigua, {{cvt|56|km}} northwest of Guadeloupe, and southeast of Nevis.<ref name="CIA">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/geos/ms.html|title=Montserrat|work=CIA World Factbook|access-date=17 June 2025}}{{dead link|date=February 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

== Topography == The island’s terrain is mostly mountainous, dominated by the active Soufrière Hills volcano. It rises to about {{cvt|1050|m}} post the eruption and subsequent dome formation in 1995.<ref name="CIA"/> The island features two other major volcanic systems Silver Hills, and Centre Hills. The mostly mountainous interior is flanked by coastal lowlands.<ref name="FAO">{{cite web|url=https://www.fao.org/4/x5653e/x5653e02.htm|title=Montserrat|work=FAO|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref> 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.<ref name="CIA"/>

About 30% of the land supported agriculture, and 25% is covered with forests.<ref name="CIA"/> The island vegetation ranges from mangroves and dry scrub in coastal plains to evergreen and montane forests in upland areas.<ref name="FAO"/> The island has no major rivers or lakes, and water runoff occurs through seasonal ravines from highlands to the sea.<ref name="FAO"/>

== Climate == Montserrat features tropical rainforest climate (Af in Köppen classification) with consistently warm temperatures. Annual rainfall varies from {{cvt|1016|mm}} at lower altitudes to over {{cvt|2540|mm}} at higher altitudes.<ref name="FAO"/> The island is prone to frequent natural hazards such as hurricanes, and occasional earthquakes.<ref name="CIA"/><ref name="FAO"/>

{{Weather box |width = auto |collapsed=yes |location = Plymouth |metric first = yes |single line=yes |Jan record high C = 32 |Feb record high C = 33 |Mar record high C = 34 |Apr record high C = 34 |May record high C = 36 |Jun record high C = 37 |Jul record high C = 37 |Aug record high C = 37 |Sep record high C = 36 |Oct record high C = 34 |Nov record high C = 37 |Dec record high C = 33 |year record high C = 37 |Jan high C = 29 |Feb high C = 30 |Mar high C = 31 |Apr high C = 31 |May high C = 32 |Jun high C = 32 |Jul high C = 33 |Aug high C = 33 |Sep high C = 32 |Oct high C = 31 |Nov high C = 30 |Dec high C = 29 |Jan low C = 23 |Feb low C = 23 |Mar low C = 24 |Apr low C = 24 |May low C = 24 |Jun low C = 25 |Jul low C = 25 |Aug low C = 25 |Sep low C = 24 |Oct low C = 24 |Nov low C = 24 |Dec low C = 23 |Jan record low C = 17 |Feb record low C = 18 |Mar record low C = 18 |Apr record low C = 18 |May record low C = 19 |Jun record low C = 21 |Jul record low C = 22 |Aug record low C = 22 |Sep record low C = 21 |Oct record low C = 19 |Nov record low C = 19 |Dec record low C = 18 |Jan precipitation mm = 122 |Feb precipitation mm = 86 |Mar precipitation mm = 112 |Apr precipitation mm = 89 |May precipitation mm = 97 |Jun precipitation mm = 112 |Jul precipitation mm = 155 |Aug precipitation mm = 183 |Sep precipitation mm = 168 |Oct precipitation mm = 196 |Nov precipitation mm = 180 |Dec precipitation mm = 140 |year precipitation mm = 1640 |source 1 = BBC Weather<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT003230 | title =Average Conditions Plymouth, Montserrat| access-date =14 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130154142/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT003230 |url-status=dead |archive-date= 30 November 2010 | work=BBC Weather }}</ref> |date=August 2010 }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Geography of Montserrat