Rivière d'Ain, ENS de l'Ain

The river Ain, from its ancient name "Igneus", rises in the Jura and meanders down to the Rhône. Its sinuous and deep course has been softened and widened by the reservoirs of the hydroelectric plants.
The Ain, a natural border between the high plateaus and the first ranges of the Jura, was for a long time difficult to cross; few bridges resisted its whims and a few ferries crossed it.
It was used to float wood (on rafts of tied logs, "the Navoys") and to transport goods to Lyon.
An exceptional site in terms of landscape, the banks of the Ain form a discontinuous series of high cliffs.
A great place for climbing and paragliding, these limestone ledges are also a refuge for rock birds.
Take the captivating routes that wind along the river, either at the top of the cliffs or at the bottom of the valley. Enjoy the views, dams, bridges, waterfalls and the proximity of the water.

The entire upper part of the Ain River has been awarded the ENS label by the Ain Department since 2019.
The Ain River at Corveissiat has been labelled "ENS" by the Department of Ain since 2015 with the cave and the reculée.
Real natural and landscape jewels of the Department of Ain, the sites benefiting from the ENS "Sensitive Natural Areas" label are managed in such a way as to preserve the biodiversity that they host and are developed for opening to the public (with some exceptions due to the fragility of the environments).