The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Chaîne des Puys–Limagne Fault Tectonic Arena (Auvergne, France)

The Chaîne des Puys–Limagne fault tectonic arena, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018, serves as a natural scale model illustrating continental rift processes. This site uniquely combines the Limagne fault (a graben border), the granitic Plateau des Dômes with its Quaternary volcanic alignment (Chaîne des Puys), and an inverted relief from Pliocene lava flow erosion (Montagne de la Serre). The study highlights how these structural and volcanic features, when viewed globally, provide a tangible understanding of deep tectonic dynamics. As an inhabited environment supporting 30,000 residents with traditional agroforestry practices, the site now faces the challenge of balancing conservation, sustainable development, and international recognition post-inscription.

Merle, O., Boivin, P., Langlois, E., de Larouzière, F.-D., Michelin, Y., & Olive, C. (2023). The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Chaîne des Puys–Limagne Fault Tectonic Arena (Auvergne, France). Geosciences, 13(7), 198. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13070198