Geography
The island of Montserrat is an Overseas Territory of the UK in the Caribbean, southeast of Puerto Rico.

Plymouth, the capital, was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity. Government offices moved to the Carr's Bay and Little Bay area in the northwest of the island.

Montserrat is a mountainous volcanic island with coastal lowland.

The climate of Montserrat is tropical.

Environment
The Montserrat National Trust is responsible for conservation, preservation and enhancement of the island's natural, historical and cultural resources as well as the promotion of public environmental awareness.

Following volcanic eruptions, the Montserrat National Trust joined with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and other UK partners, to help the people of Montserrat conserve the central hills. The project included establishing Montserrat's first National Park.

Architecture
A number of sites in the south of the island, restored by the the Montserrat National Trust, were buried by volcanic activity.

The National Trust is restoring areas in the north of Montserrat such as Carr's Bay Gun Battery and Woodlands Beach House.

Population
The population of Montserrat was estimated at 4,900 in 2013. Many people left the island following volcanic activity; some have since returned.

Languages
English is the official language. An English-based local dialect is also spoken.

Religion
People in Montserrat belong to the following Christian churches: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal and Seventh-Day Adventist.

Food
Soups and stews are popular. Local dishes include pumpkin soup and "goat water". Goat water is a thick goat meat stew.

A traditional dish is "mountain chicken" which is not chicken but [the leg of] a large frog which lives on Montserrat and Dominica.

Seafood plays an important part in the diet; salt fish is also used in recipes.

Vegetables available include cabbage, dasheen, tomatoes, okra, onions and peppers. Tropical fruits such as bananas, papayas and soursops are grown.

Fresh fruit juices are available and the local alcoholic drink is Montserrat Rum Punch.

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