A fascinating and somewhat eerie fun fact about Montserrat is that it is home to a modern-day "Sodom and Gomorrah" or a "Modern Pompeii": the buried capital city of Plymouth. Following the catastrophic eruptions of the Soufrière Hills volcano in 1995 and 1997, the entire southern half of the island—including the once-vibrant capital—was covered in several feet of volcanic ash and mud. Today, Plymouth remains the only "ghost city" in the world that is technically still a national capital, though the government has moved to Brades in the north. Visitors can take guided tours into the "Exclusion Zone" to see the tops of buildings, including the post office and a hotel, peeking out from the hardened volcanic flow. Another lighter fun fact is Montserrat's deep connection to Ireland; it is the only place in the world outside of Ireland where St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday. The island is often called the "Emerald Isle of the Caribbean" due to its lush green landscape and the heritage of the Irish indentured servants who settled there in the 17th century. Even the island's official passport stamp is shaped like a shamrock, blending Caribbean culture with unique Celtic history.