Puy-de-Dôme (mountain)
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|- | style="border-top:1px solid #999966; border-right:1px solid #999966" bgcolor="#e7dcc3" width=85 | Coordinates: | style="border-top:1px solid #999966" width=220 | [45.5° N 2.8° E] |-
|- | style="border-top:1px solid #999966; border-right:1px solid #999966" bgcolor=#e7dcc3 width=85 | Type: | style="border-top:1px solid #999966" width=220 | cumulo-dome (tholoid) |- | style="border-top:1px solid #999966; border-right:1px solid #999966" bgcolor=#e7dcc3 width=85 | Age of rock: | style="border-top:1px solid #999966" width=220 | <10,000 years |- | style="border-top:1px solid #999966; border-right:1px solid #999966" bgcolor=#e7dcc3 width=85 | Last eruption: | style="border-top:1px solid #999966" width=220 | ca. 5760 BC |-
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Puy-de-Dôme, a cumulo-dome (tholoid) volcano, is one of the youngest volcanoes in the Chaîne des Puys region of Massif Central in south-central France. Curiously, this chain is located far from the edge of any tectonic plate.
It is located approximately 10 km away from Clermont-Ferrand. The Puy-de-Dôme département is named after the volcano.
- Most recent eruption: ca. 5760 BC.
History
In pre-Christian Europe, Puy-de-Dôme served as an assembly place for spiritual ceremonies. Temples were built at the summit, including a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Mercury, the ruins of which were discovered in 1873.
In 1648, Florin Périer, at the urging of Blaise Pascal, proved Evangelista Torricelli's theory that barometric observations were caused by the weight of air by measuring the height of a column of mercury at three elevations on Puy-de-Dôme.
In 1875, a physics laboratory was built at the summit. Since 1956, a TDF (Télédiffusion de France) antenna is also located there.
In more recent times, Puy-de-Dôme has served as a frequent stage finish in the Tour de France. It was here that in 1964 that Poulidor battled with Jacques Anquetil. Also on this peak in 1975 Eddy Merckx was punched in the stomach by a spectator. However, the road is only open for cyclists during very limited periods (when other vehicles are prohibited). In 2006 this is 7-9am on Wednesdays and Sundays between 1st May and 30th September.
On the top of the mountain, there is a transmitter for FM and TV.
- Climbbybike.com [All cycling information on and profile to climb the Puy-de-Dôme]
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