Could Auvergne volcanoes enter eruption again?

Auvergne volcanoes are known to everyone. Meanwhile, are even a real pride for France, these being moreover UNESCO World Heritage. Moreover, But could these sleeping volcanoes one day wake up?

Over 300 volcanoes! Moreover, – Could auvergne volcanoes enter eruption

Auvergne volcanoes do not only bring together the volcanic buildings of the famous Puys chain. Therefore, an alignment of volcanoes in the Puy-de-Dôme extending to 32 kilometers long and 4 wide. In addition, Indeed. Meanwhile, the Volcanoes of the Massif Central extend throughout the old region of Auvergne, thus also found on Cantal or Haute-Loire. Similarly, It is also in Cantal that The largest volcano in European old stratovolcana named “Cantal”.

In total, these are so more than 300 volcanic buildings Who shaped the landscapes of the Massif Central, the latter having erupted over a period extending from -25 million to -6,000 years. The Puys chain also brings together the “most young” volcanoes in mainland Francethese having been active between -90. 000 and -6,000 years.

These volcanoes come from the movements of the tectonic plates that led to the formation of the Alps. which started around 40 million years ago. If the terrestrial crust has raised further east. it has on the contrary stretched and fractured at the level of the Massif Central, which caused a mantle ascent and thus the formation of the first volcanoes of the massif about -25 million years ago.

According to geological studies carried out could auvergne volcanoes enter eruption in the region. it is in particular from -12 million years that volcanic activity has clearly intensified with many volcanoes active in the region, Whether effusive or explosive. This is why we find so many volcanic buildings with various and varied forms in the region.

Are the Auvergne volcanoes really asleep?

Scientists consider that a volcano is extinguished when he is not erupting over a period of 10,000 years. Gold, The last eruption of the Puys chain dates back approximately -6,700 years. She had then formed 4 volcanoes including the Pavine volcano, now a lake following a very powerful explosion. Thus. according to this definition, The volcanoes of the Puys chain are therefore only “asleep”but does that mean that they could wake up one day?

If we except the craters still clearly visible in the landscapes of the Massif Central and the few hot sources delight the thermal stations of the sector, it is difficult to imagine a volcanic activity in this region. Yet, Geologists have discovered that a gigantic liquid magma reservoir was still a few kilometers deep under the Puys chain.

This magma would not have yet had time to cool and completely crystallize since the last large eruption of the massif. So. It cannot be said that this magma will not manage to sneak into the surface in the future And that could auvergne volcanoes enter eruption the Auvergne volcanoes will come out of their sleep. This volcanic chain has also known much longer periods of inactivity During its history before waking up. generating important eruptions.

Nevertheless unnecessary to panic if you live near a volcanic building. Auvergne volcanoes are “monogenic”, which means that they can only enter into eruption. As a result. if new eruption there is, the magma will have to make its way to the surface by fracturing the rock, which will be visible on seismographers long before the hypothetical eruption occurredknowing that Auvergne volcanoes are closely monitored by French geologists.

Could auvergne volcanoes enter eruption

Article reference:

Can Auvergne volcanoes wake up?Science & Vie (15/06/2025), Morgane could auvergne volcanoes enter eruption Petit