MASSIF CENTRAL

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").
Long a barrier to communication, the opening of the A75 motorway has not only made north-south travel easier but it has also opened up the Massif Central itself.

Contents

Administration

Mountains

Plateaus include

See also

Administration

The following ''départements'' are generally considered as part of the ''Massif Central'': Allier, Ardèche, Aveyron, Cantal, Corrèze, Creuse, Haute-Loire, Haute-Vienne, Loire, Lot, Lozère, and Puy-de-Dôme.
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.

Mountains

Mountain ranges, with notable individual mountains, are (roughly north-to-south):

★ Chaîne des Puys

★
★ Puy de Dôme (1464 m)

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★ Puy de Pariou (1210 m)

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★ Puy de Lassolas (1187 m) and Puy de la Vache (1167 m)

★ Monts-Dores

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★ Puy de Sancy (1886 m)

★ Le Cantal

★
★ Plomb du Cantal (1855 m)

★
★ Puy Mary (1787 m)

★ L'Aubrac

★ Cevennes

★
★ Mont Lozère (1702 m), the highest non-volcanic summit

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★ Mont Aigoual (1567 m), near Le Vigan

Plateaus include

★ Larzac

★ Plateau de Millevaches

See also

★ Geography of France

★ The Segala Region of the Massif Central