Page 278 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

The Auvergne – Centre of Volcanic Tourism in France 255

Gates, 2001) and finely grey ash up to 3m thick
(approximately 16,000 years ago). Similarly,
products of the even more recent eruption of Puy
Chopine form at the top of the Lemptégy
excavation a 50cm to 3m thick layer resulting from
a pyroclastic flow of about 9500 years ago. Puy
Chopine is classically described as a trachytic
protrusion resulting from a violent explosive phase
which opened a vast crater in the pre-existing
Strombolian cone of Puy de Gouttes.
The tourism to this site is characterized by the
operators as ‘Instant Nature’ inside a volcano.
Figure 17.3 The ‘chimneys’ of Lemptégy 1 Family groups are especially catered for and the
point is, like Vulcania, that the anatomy of a
Source: Malcolm Cooper
volcano over time is laid out for all to see. Travel
is made easier by the train, there is an attached
3
which the bulkiest is 24m and weighs 60 tons restaurant and playground, and impact is assured
(Figure 17.3). In the walls north of this area, by the ‘Mine Explosive’ or fireworks display at
projections of Lemptégy 1 are separated from the night. Having said this, the intention is not merely
deposits of Lemptégy 2 by deposits from Puy de to entertain; there is a serious information flow
Gouttes. The colour of these lapilli (pyroclastic occurring during the two-and–a-half hour tour,
material; Ritchie and Gates, 2001, p128) is and the nature and risks of volcano tourism are
normally black, but here their colour is red close emphasized. Study workshops and other com-
to their base. This implies that they fell on still hot munity values are also provided.
Lemptégy 1 material and this suggests synchronous
activity of both Lemptégy 1 and Puy de Gouttes Associated geotourism phenomena
from the same volcanic system. Their lava is Throughout central and southern France there
chemically and mineralogically identical. This exist thermal springs, some of which have been in
initial building of the Puy de Lemptégy was continuous use for thousands of years. Some two
recently dated at approximately 60,000 years by millennia after the Romans built their thermal
thermoluminescence from the quartz that abounds baths at Aix en Provence, for example, tourists are
in its substance (Graveline, 1999, pp22–23). This is still seeking out the therapeutic waters from the
also the age of the Puy de Gouttes. underground springs (Erfurt-Cooper and Cooper,
A Strombolian trachyandesitic second eruption, 2009). In the 21st century Thermes Sextius
Lemptégy 2, occurred about 30,000 years ago. The supplies the resort, a vast modern spa built on top
magma is different to Lemptégy 1 being of the Roman Baths (still visible through glass
trachyandesite (Bril, 1998, p124) and similar to panels in the lobby). Similar resources are found
that found in the Volvic area (Graveline, 1999). The associated with the volcanoes of the Massif
chimney of this eruption, characterized by the Central, and include the world famous Vichy and
welding of materials together, was preserved by Volvic springs from which bottled water is
the excavation of scoria. Subsidiary ‘escapes’ of exported all over the world.
liquid lava subsequent to the formation of this
chimney gave seams of rock that are locally known Other volcanic areas of France
as dykes. These are south-west trending, which led
to their discovery during the excavations for Metropolitan France
Vulcania, and they are quite similar to the outflow Other areas of volcanism in metropolitan France
from the more famous Puy de Côme. In fact the do not have as much direct influence on tourist
latter volcano more recently covered Lemptégy 2 flows; they are more in the nature of background
with wind-borne deposits of lapilli (Ritchie and scenery or constitute the physical makeup of

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