Massif Central
| Massif Central | |
|---|---|
View of Puy de Sancy, the highest peak in the Massif Central | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Puy de Sancy |
| Elevation | 1,886 m (6,188 ft) |
| Coordinates | 45°31′42″N 2°48′51″E / 45.52833°N 2.81417°E |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Massís Central (Occitan) |
| Pronunciation | UK: /ˌmæsiːf sɒ̃ˈtrɑːl/, US: /mæˌsiːf -, - sɛnˈ-, məˌsiːf sɑːnˈ-/ French: [masif sɑ̃tʁal] Occitan: [maˈsis senˈtɾal] |
| Geography | |
| Country | France |
| Regions | |
| Range coordinates | 46°N 3°E / 46°N 3°E |
The Massif Central (French pronunciation: [masif sɑ̃tʁal]) 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 sillon rhodanien (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.