Massif Central facts for kids

France's mountains from space (Taken by NASA)

Exactly where the Massif is

Neoproterozoic gneiss of the Arverne domain near Nontron, Dordogne. The light-coloured greywacke layer dips steeply to the NNE.

The Massif Central is a high region in south-central France. It has mountains and plateaux. it covers 15% of the country. The geological history of the massif is complicated. It is ancient, and many things have happened to it.

Many extinct volcanos can be found there. It has the largest concentration in the world with 450 volcanos. The Auvergne Volcanoes National Park is in the massif. The Massif is separated from the Alps by the valley of the Rhone.

These departments are usually considered as part of the Massif Central: Allier, Ardèche, Aveyron, Cantal, Corrèze, Creuse, Haute-Loire, Haute-Vienne, Loire, Lot, Lozère, and Puy-de-Dôme.

Mountains

Here are some well-known mountains in the massif central:

• Puy de Dôme (1464 m)
• Puy de Sancy (1886 m)
• Plomb du Cantal (1855 m)
• Mont Lozère (1702 m), the highest non-volcanic summit
• Mont Aigoual (1567 m), near Le Vigan

Geography

The Massif Central is a very important mountain range in France. It is the fourth highest, the Alps, the Pyrénées, and Corsica are higher; Jura, Vosges, Morvan and Ardennes are lower.

This railway bridge is the Garabit viaduct, built by Gustave Eiffel

The Gorge du Tarn

Images for kids

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  Causse Méjean

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  The Millau Viaduct

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  Chaine des Puys in Auvergne

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  Puy de Sancy (1,886 m, 6,188 ft)

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  The Cévennes range

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  Gorges du Tarn canyon

See also

In Spanish: Macizo Central para niños