Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO)

Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) - darkometer rating : 5 - The official site from where a team of volcanologists monitor Montserrat 's Soufriere Hills volcano's activity and hazards. For tourists, there's a small visitor centre – but the main draw is the view of the volcano itself. > More background info > What there is to see > Location > Access and costs > Time required > Combinations with other dark destinations > Combinations with non-dark destinations > Photos More background info: see under Montserrat for a summary of the volcanic events and their impact on the island. From the beginnings of the volcano's sudden awakening, scientists have been flocking to the island. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) was set up soon after the initial explosive events of 1995, initially bearing a series of different designations and run in co-ordination with various bodies such as the British Geological Survey. Since 1999 the MVO has been a statutory authority of the Government of Montserrat. It's now run by a combination of local and non-local bodies … but this is not really the place for lingering on the (rather complex) bureaucratic nature of this institution. Suffice it to say that the MVO, after having been housed initially in adapted pre-existing buildings, has since December 2002 been housed in a purpose-built edifice on the hillside overlooking the volcano directly, but from a safe distance. Apart from all the volcanologists' observation gear inside and its own helipad right in front of it, the new MVO has also been granted a small tourist visitor centre and a viewing deck. It is thus the most tourist-developed volcano-related spot on Montserrat . For the Montserratians, however, the MVO is of crucial importance as the institution that is responsible for the official hazard levels being raised or lowered – on a scale of 1 to 5.