The eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano in 1995 buried Montserrat's capital on the southwest coast and forced much of the island's population to flee - mostly to the UK, since Montserrat is still a British Overseas Territory. Though in the interim the local government has been operating out of the town of Brades on the northwest coast, and a new capital is still being built in next door Little Bay. The southern half of the island is still an "exclusion zone" but guided tours to Plymouth - still listed as the official capital - are available, and it's singular - eerie and poignant - experience indeed.
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