Chaîne des Puys

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View from Puy de Dôme the Chaîne des Puys

The Chaîne des Puys, sometimes also called Monts Domes, is a chain of volcanic mountains, in the Massif Central, in the Auvergne region. It extends in a north-south direction over a length of about 30 kilometers and covers about a hundred extinct volcanoes. It is located west of Clermont -Ferrand, in the Puy -de- Dôme. The highest elevation is the same Puy de Dôme, with a height of 1465 meters above sea level.

The Chaîne des Puys is part of the Regional Natural Park of Auvergne Volcanoes.

Geology

In the area you will find the remains of three different volcano types:

• Cinder cone type Stromboli (most common occurrence),
• Lava domes of the type Mont Pelée,
• Crater lakes of type Maar.

The volcanoes are from the period of the Quaternary. The first eruptions took place about 90,000 years ago, at the Lac Pavin, the last happened about 6,000 years.

Some peaks of the Chaîne des Puys

From north to south:

• Puy de Louchardière ( 1198 m),
• Puy Chopine ( 1181 m),
• Puy Pariou ( 1189 m),
• Puy de Clerziou ( 1197 m),
• Puy de Côme ( 1253 m),
• Puy de Dôme ( 1465 m ),
• Puy de Mercœur ( 1249m ),
• Puy de Lassolas ( 1197 m),
• Puy de Montenard ( 1173 m).

Vulcania

The European Park of Volcanism Vulcania is a theme park around the volcanism deals with all questions and these are treated in a variety of exhibits and installations. It is located in Saint -Ours -les -Roches in the midst of real volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys.