The Mounts of Cantal (or Volcanoes of Cantal ; French : Monts du Cantal [mɔ̃ dy kɑ̃tal] ) are a mountainous massif in the mid-west of the Massif Central , France, made up of the remnants of the largest stratovolcano of Europe, which was formed from 13 million years ago and last erupted approximately 2 million years ago, reaching estimated heights between 3,500 and 4,000 meters. However, the main part of the volcanic activity was concentrated between 8.5 and 7 million years. Thereafter, the original volcano was largely eroded, massive landslides occurred, and it was further eroded by glaciers and water.
5-630: The Puy Mary is a summit in the mounts of Cantal in Massif Central in France. It is classified as a "Grand National Site" in France. Nearly 500,000 visitors come to this site every year. The mountain is an extinct volcano, about 6.5 million years old, which was formed by the accumulation of viscous lava ( trachyte ). It has been gradually eroded by glaciers during the Quaternary glaciation , which explains its pyramidal form. Seven glacial valleys radiate from
10-429: A protection regional or national and 70 other not protected but rare). For example, one will be able to find, with a little chance, the following species of high mountain : the saxifrage with opposite sheets ( Saxifraga oppositifolia ), the saxifrage with sheets of Androsace ( Saxifraga androsacea ), the verticillate pedicular ( Pedicularis verticillata ) or the saxifrage of Lamotte ( Saxifraga exarata subsp lamottei),
15-551: The latter being an endemic species of the Cantal and the monts Dore . The puy Mary is a top where most of this flora can be observed. Mounts of Cantal The stratovolcano of Cantal is the widest in Europe. It is roughly circular with a diameter between 50 and 70 km (30–40 mi). Its highest point is the Plomb du Cantal (1,855 m, 6,086 ft), located in the eastern part of
20-402: The massif. Around 20 valleys have been formed in the range, radiating out from the centre and cutting the basaltic plateau into triangular pieces called planèzes . These valleys were occupied by glaciers during the last ice age , which explains their U-shape . The mounts of the Cantal are composed of several summits, the best known being: The major part of the economy is concentrated in
25-675: The summit. It is accessible starting from the Pas de Peyrol , which at 1,589 m above sea level, is the highest pass of the Massif Central. First mountain met by the oceanic disturbances coming from the Atlantic Ocean, the Puy Mary is among the wettest places in France. In winter, snow is abundant. The subalpine stage of the Cantal mounts counts 550 plant species including 130 regarded as fragile (in these species, one counts 60 species which profit from
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