The Chaine des Puys, in France, was recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is Franceâ??s youngest volcanic complex. The chain of it is about 25 miles long and features 8 lava domes and 48 cinder cones. The middle of it contains the highest point, which is about 4,806 feet high. As interesting as this volcano chain is, itâ??s not surprisingly that is has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

No Worries About Eruption

The last time the volcano erupted was 4040 BCE. Itâ??s known to have extensive dormant periods followed by massive eruptions. This means that visitors can see the volcano without fear of it erupting. One of the interesting facts about this structure is that almost all of itâ??s cones were formed by a series of Strombolian eruptions. The majority of them have summit craters that are very well defined. You can also see some of the broken rims where lava has ate away at them.

A Youthful Volcano

Chaine des Puys is thought to have been formed anywhere from 95,000 to 8,400 years ago. This means that itâ??s very young and even though it hasnâ??t erupted in a very long time itâ??s considered to be in a dormant phase rather than it being extinct. Much of the chain is made up of volcanoes that were formed during one, brief eruption. These types of volcanoes are called monogenetic volcanoes. Itâ??s amazing to see the amount of them that were formed by just a single eruption. One of the things that makes Chaine des Pus so unique is the lavas varied chemistry. This allows for it to have quite a few volcanic shapes that are distinct. Many people are surprised to see the maars, domes and cones that make up the system.

For those that want to get an up close view of the volcano, there is a train ride that takes visitors up to it. It departs every 20-40 minutes dependent on the time of year. Once at the top visitors can walk around and enjoy the incredible view of the area. In addition to seeing the Chaine des Pus, there are also other things to do in the area. Itâ??s a great spot for nature lovers as there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Horseback riding is common and you might be surprised to see all of the horse riders in this area.