The Hessian Central Uplands include the Vogelsberg mountain range, the largest contiguous region of basalt in Europe as well as numerous volcanic outcrops, large and small, within the state of Hesse. The uplands are bounded to the west and east by the West and East Hesse Depressions respectively, two major natural corridors running roughly north-to-south through the state. Further north, the uplands encompass the smaller Knüll and Meissner (range) ranges.