| Massif Central | |
| Pronunciation: | , [1] [2] [3] pronounced as /fr/ in Occitan (post 1500); maˈsis senˈtɾal/ |
| Map Size: | 275 |
| Map Alt: | Location of the Massif Central in France |
| Photo Size: | 275 |
| Country: | France |
| Subdivision2 Type: | Regions |
| Elevation M: | 1886 |
| Range Coordinates: | 46°N 3°W |
| Coordinates: | 45.5283°N 2.8142°W |
The (pronounced as /fr/)[4] is a highland region in south-central France consisting of mountains and plateaus. It covers about 15% of mainland France.
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 (literally "Rhône furrow"). The region was a barrier to transport within France until the opening of the A75 motorway, which not only made north–south travel easier but also opened access to the massif itself.
See main article: Geology of the Massif Central.
The French: Massif Central|italic=no 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 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 proved yet). 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,), and small, very recent monogenic volcanoes . The entire region contains a large concentration of around 450 extinct volcanoes. The (near Clermont-Ferrand), a range running north to south and less than 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 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).
Mountain ranges, with notable individual mountains, are (roughly north to south):
The following departments are generally considered as part of the : Allier,,,,,,,,,,,, Loire,,,,,,, and ; these form parts of the regions of,, and Occitania.
The largest cities in the region are Clermont-Ferrand, Limoges, and Saint-Étienne.
In the Massif Central, the industry remains little developed except locally (metallurgy in Saint-Étienne; tires 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 and the Causses and Cévennes region.
The entire economy of the has benefited from the opening of roads, particularly the construction of the A75motorway on which is located the famous Millau Viaduct.