Massif Central

Geography and geology

Main article: Geology of the Massif Central

The Massif Central is an old massif, formed during the Variscan orogeny, consisting mostly of granitic and metamorphic rocks. It was powerfully raised and made to look geologically younger in the eastern section by the uplift of the Alps during the Paleogene period and in the southern section by the uplift of the Pyrenees. The massif thus presents a strongly asymmetrical elevation profile with highlands in the south and in the east (Cévennes) dominating the valley of the Rhône and the plains of Languedoc and, by contrast, the less elevated region of Limousin in the northwest.

These tectonic movements created faults and may be at the origin of the volcanism in the massif (but the hypothesis is not yet proven). In fact, above the crystalline foundation, one can observe many volcanoes of many different types and ages: volcanic plateaus (Aubrac, Cézallier), stratovolcanoes (Mounts of Cantal, Monts Dore), and small, very recent monogenic volcanoes (Chaîne des Puys, Vivarais). The entire region contains a large concentration of around 450 extinct volcanoes. The Chaîne des Puys (near Clermont-Ferrand), a range running north to south and less than 60 sqmi long, contains 115 of them (monogenic volcanoes only). The Auvergne Volcanoes regional natural park is in the massif. The amusement park of Vulcania near Clermont-Ferrand allows visitors to discover this natural heritage and introduces them to volcanology.

In the south, one remarkable region is made up of features called Causses in French and consists of raised limestone plateaus cut by very deep canyons. The most famous of them is the Gorges du Tarn (Tarn Canyon).

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)
  • Puy de la Vache (1167 m)
• Monts Dore
  • Puy de Sancy (1886 m)
• Monts du Lyonnais
• Pilat massif
  • Crêt de la Perdrix (1431 m)
• Mounts of Cantal
  • Plomb du Cantal (1855 m)
  • Puy Mary (1787 m)
• Forez mountains
  • Pierre-sur-Haute (1631 m)
• Aubrac
  • Signal de Mailhebiau (1469 m)
• Margeride
  • Signal de Randon (1551 m)
  • Mont Mouchet (1497 m)
• Vivarais (Ardèche)
  • Mont Mézenc (1753 m)
  • Mont Gerbier de Jonc (1551 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)

File:Chaine des Puys France 2013.jpg|Chaine des Puys in Auvergne File:Puy de Sancy1.jpg|Puy de Sancy (1886 m) File:273 Corniche des Cévennes Panorama Col des Faisses.JPG|The Cévennes range File:Saint Chely Tarn.jpg|Gorges du Tarn canyon

Plateaus

• Causse de Blandas
• Causse du Larzac
• Causse Méjean
• Causse de Sauveterre
• Causse de Sévérac
• Causse du Comtal
• Causse Noir
• Plateau de Lévézou
• Plateau de Millevaches

Administration

The following departments are generally considered as part of the Massif Central: Allier, Ardèche, Aude, Aveyron, Cantal, Corrèze, Creuse, Gard, Haute-Garonne, Haute-Loire, Haute-Vienne, Hérault, Loire, Lot, Lozère, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Saône-et-Loire, Tarn, and Tarn-et-Garonne; these form parts of the regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitania.

The largest cities in the region are Clermont-Ferrand, Limoges, and Saint-Étienne.

Economy

In the Massif Central, the industry remains little developed except locally (metallurgy in Saint-Étienne; tyres in Clermont-Ferrand, headquarters of Michelin, world leader in the sector; aeronautics industry in Figeac, etc.). The other industries present are linked to agriculture (Groupe Limagrain, the world's third-largest seed producer and cheese-producing industries that export to the world such as Cantal and Roquefort).

On the agricultural level, the Limagne plain is dominated by major cereal crops, but in the mountains, it is mainly livestock farming that predominates: cattle farming in the west for meat and milk (Cantal cheese), sheep farming in the south on the limestone plateaus (Roquefort cheese).

Finally, tourism is booming, taking advantage of the UNESCO heritage classification of the volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys and the Causses and Cévennes region.

The entire economy of the Massif Central has benefited from the opening of roads, particularly the construction of the A75 motorway on which is located the famous Millau Viaduct.

References

References

1. "Massif Central". [[Oxford University Press]].
2. {{Cite American Heritage Dictionary. Massif Central
3. {{Cite Merriam-Webster. Massif Central
4. {{langx. oc. Massís Central, {{IPA. oc. maˈsis senˈtɾal. pron; {{langx. frp. Massis Centrâl; literally "Central [[Massif]]"