Montserrat

Montserrat, Leeward Island in the West Indies, situated southeast of Puerto Rico. It was discovered and named in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, and colonized by the British in 1632; they took possession of it in 1783. Montserrat contains 3 mountain groups within an area of 38 sq mi (98 sq km). A British dependency, Montserrat has been self-governing since 1960. Plymouth is its capital. Its chief crops include cotton, limes, and vegetables. In 1997 the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted after having been dormant for four centuries. As a result, the largest part of the island became uninhabitable.