Chaîne des Puys
The Chaîne des Puys (French: [ʃɛn de pɥi], literally Chain of the Puys) is a north-south oriented chain of cinder cones, lava domes, and maars in the Massif Central of France. The chain is about 40 km (25 mi) long, and the identified volcanic features, which constitute a volcanic field, include 48 cinder cones, eight lava domes, and 15 maars and explosion craters. Its highest point is the lava dome of Puy de Dôme, located near the middle of the chain, which is 1,465 m (4,806 ft) high. The name of the range comes from a French term, puy, which refers to a volcanic mountain with a rounded profile. A date of 4040 BC is usually given for the last eruption of a Chaîne des Puys volcano.
| Chaîne des Puys | |
|---|---|
View of the Chaîne des Puys from Puy de Dôme | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | max. 1,464 m (4,803 ft) at Puy de Dôme |
| Coordinates | 45.5°N 2.8°E |
| Geography | |
Chaîne des Puys Location of Chaîne des Puys | |
| Location | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France |
| Parent range | Massif Central |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | From 7,000 to 95,000 years |
| Mountain type | cinder cones, lava domes, and maars |
| Last eruption | 4040 BC ± 150 years |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Chaîne des Puys - Limagne fault tectonic arena |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | (viii) |
| Designated | 2018 |
| Reference no. | 1434 |
| Region | Western Europe |
An outstanding example of plate tectonics in action and continental rifting, the Chaîne des Puys region became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.