Puy de Mercœur, Dormant volcano in Chaîne des Puys, France.
Puy de Mercœur is a dormant volcano in the Chaîne des Puys with a broad crater that remains clearly visible today. Its slopes are covered in low vegetation, and from the summit you look out across an entire chain of similar volcanoes stretching across the Massif Central.
This volcano formed about 18,000 years ago through explosive eruptions that released large lava flows. These eruptions shaped the landscape as it exists today and stand as evidence of ancient volcanic activity in the region.
This mountain is part of the Chaîne des Puys, a volcanic chain that carries thousands of years of geological history in its landscape. Visitors can see how nature shaped these peaks over long periods and how communities have woven such places into their own stories.
The ascent is possible via marked hiking trails starting from different access points with varying difficulty levels. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear, as the path can be rocky and conditions vary depending on the season.
In the 1980s, earthquakes were recorded beneath this peak, setting it apart from others in the chain. This seismic activity suggests that geological processes continue to occur below the surface.
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