Although commonly referred to as a plateau, the Millevaches Massif is actually more like a shallow dome, deeply dissected by streams and rivers, and slightly tilted, with the south-eastern edge elevated and more exposed. This is the visible remnant of a laccolith, a large lens-shaped mass of granite, believed to be the result of an intrusion of igneous material in the late Hercynian or Variscan orogeny.[1] As the surrounding, softer material has weathered away, the laccolith has become increasingly exposed.
Although not strictly a plateau, depending upon which direction one approaches the area from, the Plateau de Millevaches forms an important kind of step up (or a step down) in the Massif Central. There are a number of definite peaks, the highest being Mont Bessou (976m.), at the southern edge of the massif, near Meymac.
Character and features
The massif is generally densely wooded, with large areas of both coniferous forest and mixed woodland. Among the broadleaf trees, birch and beech predominate, and many roads are lined with beeches. The highest part of the massif, bounded roughly by the villages of Rempnat, Peyrelevade, Millevaches and Saint-Merd-les-Oussines, is the most densely wooded, with little agriculture or even stock-rearing intruding among the forests. Elsewhere, there is a patchwork of woods and meadows, with herds of Limousin cattle dotting the landscape, and a few fields of maize or rye.
There is a distinctive type of bog or marsh (tourbières in French) which gives rise to numerous rivers such as the Vienne. Many of these rivers are often filled with wild brown trout. The area around the village of Millevaches and the Signale d'Audouze (an outstanding peak) is part of an important watershed. The Vienne, which has its sources here, flows mainly northward, across central France, to feed the Loire. The Vézère, which arises next to it, drains south into the Dordogne, sending its water to the Atlantic via the Gironde estuary.
Many of the rivers have been dammed to create large lakes. The largest of all is the Lac de Vassivière, the result of damming the Maulde. The nearby Lac de la Vaud-Gelade is fed by the Taurion. The Vézère feeds two large lakes at Viam and Treignac. All of these provide both drinking water and hydroelectricity. They are also home to major leisure attractions, being lined with beaches, sailing schools, marinas, camp sites and picnic areas.
There are very few towns or villages of any size on the Plateau de Millevaches, but the towns of Meymac, Felletin, Ussel and Eymoutiers are situated at the edges of the Plateau.
Gallery
Typical wooded landscape of the Millevache Plateau, between Peyrelevade and Tarnac
The River Vienne, flowing past signs of recent logging near Peyrelevade, a few kilometres from its sources near the village of Millevaches
plateau, millevaches, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, unclear, citation, style, references, used, made, clearer, with, different, consist. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article has an unclear citation style The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting July 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Plateau de Millevaches news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message The Plateau de Millevaches French pronunciation plato de milvaʃ Occitan Replanat de Miuvachas is an upland area in Limousin a former administrative region of France It covers approximately 3 500 km and crosses the boundaries of three French departments Correze Creuse and Haute Vienne Plateau de MillevachesThe majority of the area is at an altitude of between 600 m and 1000 m Contents 1 Structure and geology 2 Character and features 3 Gallery 4 ReferencesStructure and geology EditAlthough commonly referred to as a plateau the Millevaches Massif is actually more like a shallow dome deeply dissected by streams and rivers and slightly tilted with the south eastern edge elevated and more exposed This is the visible remnant of a laccolith a large lens shaped mass of granite believed to be the result of an intrusion of igneous material in the late Hercynian or Variscan orogeny 1 As the surrounding softer material has weathered away the laccolith has become increasingly exposed Although not strictly a plateau depending upon which direction one approaches the area from the Plateau de Millevaches forms an important kind of step up or a step down in the Massif Central There are a number of definite peaks the highest being Mont Bessou 976m at the southern edge of the massif near Meymac Character and features EditThe massif is generally densely wooded with large areas of both coniferous forest and mixed woodland Among the broadleaf trees birch and beech predominate and many roads are lined with beeches The highest part of the massif bounded roughly by the villages of Rempnat Peyrelevade Millevaches and Saint Merd les Oussines is the most densely wooded with little agriculture or even stock rearing intruding among the forests Elsewhere there is a patchwork of woods and meadows with herds of Limousin cattle dotting the landscape and a few fields of maize or rye There is a distinctive type of bog or marsh tourbieres in French which gives rise to numerous rivers such as the Vienne Many of these rivers are often filled with wild brown trout The area around the village of Millevaches and the Signale d Audouze an outstanding peak is part of an important watershed The Vienne which has its sources here flows mainly northward across central France to feed the Loire The Vezere which arises next to it drains south into the Dordogne sending its water to the Atlantic via the Gironde estuary Many of the rivers have been dammed to create large lakes The largest of all is the Lac de Vassiviere the result of damming the Maulde The nearby Lac de la Vaud Gelade is fed by the Taurion The Vezere feeds two large lakes at Viam and Treignac All of these provide both drinking water and hydroelectricity They are also home to major leisure attractions being lined with beaches sailing schools marinas camp sites and picnic areas There are very few towns or villages of any size on the Plateau de Millevaches but the towns of Meymac Felletin Ussel and Eymoutiers are situated at the edges of the Plateau Gallery Edit Typical wooded landscape of the Millevache Plateau between Peyrelevade and Tarnac The River Vienne flowing past signs of recent logging near Peyrelevade a few kilometres from its sources near the village of Millevaches The iconic Mont Bessou viewing tower at the highest point on the plateau just to the north of Meymac View south over the edge of the plateau and towards the Cantal mountains from the Mont Bessou viewing tower Limousin cattle grazing in the Vienne valley near Rempnat A misty summer morning near Rempnat normal in this region because of the combination of heat and rainfall One of the many leisure beaches on the Lac de Vassiviere References Edit Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France May 2004 v 175 no 3 p 239 248 doi 10 2113 175 3 239 45 40 N 01 55 E 45 667 N 1 917 E 45 667 1 917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plateau de Millevaches amp oldid 1160251719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
