Massif Central

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Location of the Massif Central in France

The Massif Central (Occitan: Massís Central / Massís Centrau) is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaus.

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.

It is situated in the middle of France and it covers 15 percent of the country.

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, L'Herault, 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 northern part of the Massif Central dominate south France to the west of Rhône valley and limestone, granite and slate(schist) on southern part.

Geomorphology

The Massif Central is a distinct physiographic province of the smaller Central European Uplands division. The entire region contains the largest concentration of extinct volcanoes in the world with approximately 450 volcanoes. One strip alone running north to south and less than 60 square miles (160 km²) contains 115 of them.

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-Dores
  • Puy de Sancy (1886 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 Vivrais (Ardeche)
  • Mont Mezenc (1753 m)
• Cevennes
  • 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 include

• Causse du Larzac
• Plateau de Millevaches
• Plateau de Lévézou
• Causse du Comtal
• Causse de Sauveterre
• Cause de Sévérac
• Causse Méjan
• Casse Noir
• Causse de Blandas

References

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Massif Central

• Geography of France
• Sources d'Auvergne
• Ski resorts in Massif Central

v • d • e Subfields of physical geography Biogeography · Climatology / Paleoclimatology · Coastal geography · Geomorphology · Glaciology · Hydrology / Hydrography · Landscape ecology · Limnology · Oceanography · Palaeogeography · Pedology · Quaternary science

Coordinates: 45°46′30″N 2°58′00″E / 45.775°N 2.9666667°E / 45.775; 2.9666667