Massif Central
| Massif Central | |
|---|---|
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Puy de Dôme is the highest volcano in the chain of volcanoes Chaine des Puys | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Puy de Sancy |
| Elevation | 1,886 m (6,188 ft) |
| Coordinates | 45°31′42″N 2°48′51″E / 45.52833°N 2.81417°E |
| Geography | |
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| Country | France |
| States/Provinces | |
| Range coordinates | 46°N 3°E / 46°N 3°ECoordinates: 46°N 3°E / 46°N 3°E |
The Massif Central (Occitan: Massís Central / Massís Centrau) is an elevated region in the middle of southern France, consisting of mountains and plateaux. It covers 15 percent of the country.
Subject to volcanism that has subsided in the last 10,000 years, these central mountains are separated from the Alps by a deep north-south cleft created by the Rhône River and known in French as the sillon rhodanien (literally "the furrow of the Rhône").
The region was a barrier to communication until the opening of the A75 motorway, which not only made north-south travel easier, but also opened up the Massif Central itself.
Administration
The following départements are generally considered as part of the Massif Central: Allier, Ardèche, Aude, Aveyron, Cantal, Corrèze, Creuse, Gard, Haute-Loire, Haute-Vienne, Hérault, Loire, Lot, Lozère, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône and Tarn.
The following régions are part of the Massif Central: Auvergne, Limousin. Part of the following régions are in the Massif Central: Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi-Pyrénées, and Rhône-Alpes.
The largest cities are Clermont-Ferrand and Saint-Étienne.
Volcanic rocks on the northern part of Massif Central dominate the south of France to the west of the Rhône valley, while limestone, granite, and slate (schist) dominate the southern part.
Geology
The Massif Central is a distinct physiographic province of the smaller Central European Uplands division. The entire region contains a large concentration of approximately 450 extinct volcanoes. One strip alone, running north to south and less than 60 square miles (160 km2), contains 115 of them. The Auvergne Volcanoes National Park is in the massif.
Mountains
Mountain ranges, with notable individual mountains, are (roughly north-to-south):
- Chaîne des Puys
- Puy de Dôme (1464 m)
- Puy de Pariou (1210 m)
- Puy de Lassolas (1187 m) and Puy de la Vache (1167 m)
- Monts Dore
- Puy de Sancy (1886 m)
- Monts du Lyonnais
- Pilat massif
- Perdrix (1,431 m)
- Monts du Cantal
- Plomb du Cantal (1855 m)
- Puy Mary (1787 m)
- Forez
- Pierre-sur-Haute (1634 m)
- L'Aubrac
- Le Signal de Mailhebiau (1469 m)
- Monts de La Margeride
- Signal de Randon (1551 m)
- Monts du Vivarais (Ardèche)
- Mont Mezenc (1753 m)
- Cévennes
- Mont Lozère (1699 m), the highest non-volcanic summit
- Mont Aigoual (1567 m), near Le Vigan, Florac
- Monts de Lacaune
- Montgrand (1267 m)
- Monts de L'Espinouse
- Sommet de L'Espinouse (1124 m)
- Montagne Noire
- Pic de Nore (1211 m)
Plateaux
- Causse du Larzac
- Plateau de Millevaches
- Plateau de Lévézou
- Causse du Comtal
- Causse de Sauveterre
- Causse de Sévérac
- Causse Méjan
- Causse Noir
- Causse de Blandas
References
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Massif Central. |
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