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Home  >  World  > Caribbean  > Montserrat General Information Area: 102 sq km (39.5 sq miles). Population: 5000 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 49.0 per sq km. Capital: Plymouth (mostly destroyed by pyroclastic flows, August 1997). GEOGRAPHY: Montserrat is one of the Leeward Islands group in the Eastern Caribbean. It is a volcanic island with black sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation. There are three main volcanic mountains on the island and Chances Peak is its highest point at 915m (3002ft). The Soufrière group of hills house the volcano which began erupting in July 1995 and to date is continuously active. The Great Alps Waterfall, previously one of the most spectacular sights in the West Indies, has been destroyed by the volcano. Government: British Overseas Territory since 1632. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Anthony Longrigg since May 2001. Head of Government: Chief Minister Dr John A Osborne since April 2001. Language: English. Religion: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and other Christian denominations. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Communications:   Telephone Full IDD is available. Country code: 1 664. Outgoing international code: 011. Phone booths are operated by coins and phonecards. Mobile telephone TDMA network not compatible with GSM handsets. Coverage extends over the northern half of the island. Handsets can be hired from the network provider, C&W Caribbean Cellular (website: www.caribcell.com). Roaming agreements may be in force even with GSM network providers, allowing those with non-compatible handsets to use their own SIM cards in a TDMA handset. Fax/telegram Cable & Wireless (WI) Ltd runs international links. Internet Main ISP is Cable & Wireless (website: www.cwantigua.com). Post The Main Post Office in Brades is open Mon-Fri 0815-1555. Press The Montserrat Reporter is in English and is published weekly. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC: MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America: MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd. Terms and Conditions apply.