Ain
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- Ain is also a figure from mythology; see Ain (mythology).
| Ain | |
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| Missing image Blason_france_Ain_petit.jpg Coat of Arms of Ain Details | |
| Information | |
| Number | 01 |
| Region | Rhône-Alpes |
| Prefecture | Bourg-en-Bresse |
| Subprefectures | Belley Gex Nantua |
| Population | Ranked 48th
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| Area | 5,762 km² |
| Arrondissements | 4 |
| Cantons | 43 |
| Communes | 419 |
| President of the general council | Charles de la Verpillière |
| Location | |
| Missing image Carte_France_Département_01.png Location of Ain in France | |
Ain is a département named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France bordering Switzerland.
| Contents |
History
The département was one of the 83 départements created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from four former provinces: Bresse, Bugey, Dombres, and Gex, and part of a fifth: Franc-Lyonnais. The area was originally part of the ancient kingdom of Burgundy, before it was ceded to France by the dukes of Savoy in 1601.
From 1798 to 1814, Gex was separated and became part of the département of Léman. Six communes of the southwest were separated from Ain in 1967 and became part of the Urban Community of Lyon.
Geography
The département is cut in half along a north-south line by the Ain River. The west consists of plains and low plateaus. The east is more mountainous, consisting of the southern extension of the Jura mountains. The highest elevation in the département (and in the Jura mountains) is the Crêt de la Neige (1720 m).
Ain is surrounded by the French départements of Jura, Saône-et-Loire, Rhône, Isère, Savoie, and Haute-Savoie. On the east, it borders the Swiss cantons of Genève and Vaud.
The following are the principal towns:
- Ambérieu-en-Bugey
- Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
- Belley
- Bourg-en-Bresse
- Ferney-Voltaire
- Gex
- Meximieux
- Montluel
- Nantua
- Oyonnax
In addition to the Ain, the following rivers flow through the département:
Demographics
The département has no large city, and the population is distributed over a network of smaller towns. The population decreased slightly in the second half of the 19th century because of urbanization, and even more markedly during World War I. It began to increase again after World War II, partly due to the expansion of the suburbs of Lyon and Geneva. From 1968 to 1999, the population increased from 339,262 to 515,270.
Tourism
One of the major tourist attractions is Voltaire's estate at Ferney-Voltaire.
The département also offers great chances to explore nature, on foot, on a bicycle, or on horseback. Its rivers and lakes provide many opportunities for water sports of all kinds.
The northeast of the département, the Pays de Gex has numerous ski resorts and panoramic views of the Alps, including the Mont Blanc.
The Parc Naturel Régional du Haut Jura is a natural reserve with high mountain passes.
External links
- Conseil Général website (http://www.cg01.fr/) (in French)
- Prefecture website (http://www.ain.pref.gouv.fr/) (in French)
- http://www.maisons-de-retraite.net/pages/rhone/ain/tourisme/loisirs.htm
| Départements of France | 
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|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 2A | 2B | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | |
| Les DOM-TOM: 971 | 972 | 973 | 974 | 975 | 976 | 986 | 987 | 988 | French Southern Territories | Îles Éparses | |
| Administrative divisions of France: régions - départements - arrondissements - cantons - communes | |
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