Ain (river) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ain |
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Course of the Ain.
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| Native name | En |
| Country | France |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Jura mountains ± 700 m (2,300 ft) 46°44′58″N 6°1′24″E / 46.74944°N 6.02333°E |
| River mouth | Rhône 45°47′45″N 5°10′10″E / 45.79583°N 5.16944°E |
| Length | 190 km (120 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Rhône→ Mediterranean Sea |
| Basin size | 3,630 km2 (1,400 sq mi) |
The Ain (pronounced "An") is a river located in eastern France. In the local Franco-Provençal language, it is called En. This river flows into the Rhône river from its right side. The Ain river is so important that it gave its name to a French area called the Ain department.
Contents
About the Ain River
The Ain river is about 190 km (118.1 mi) long. That's like driving from one end of a big city to another! It also has a large drainage basin. A drainage basin is the area of land where all the rain and melted snow eventually flow into that river. For the Ain, this area is about 3,765 km2 (1,454 sq mi).
How Much Water Flows?
The river's average yearly discharge is 121 m3/s (4,300 cu ft/s). Discharge means the amount of water that passes a certain point in the river each second. This measurement was taken near Chazey-sur-Ain in the Ain department.
Where Does the Ain River Start?
The Ain river begins in the Jura mountains. Its source is a special type of spring called a karst spring. This means the water comes out of underground caves and channels in limestone rock. It starts between the villages of Conte and La Favière in the Jura department. The starting point is quite high up, at about 680 m (2,231 ft) above sea level. From there, the Ain river flows generally towards the south.
Where Does the Ain River Flow?
The Ain river flows through two main regions in France. It passes through two different departments and a total of 66 towns or communes. Some of the places it flows through include:
- In the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region:
- In the Jura department: Sirod, Syam, Champagnole, Crotenay, Pont-de-Poitte, Moirans-en-Montagne, Thoirette
- In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region:
- In the Ain department: Poncin, Neuville-sur-Ain, Pont-d'Ain, Priay, Châtillon-la-Palud, Chazey-sur-Ain, Saint-Jean-de-Niost, Saint-Maurice-de-Rémens
Finally, the Ain river joins the mighty Rhône river. This happens near the town of Saint-Maurice-de-Gourdans. This spot is also close to the border of the Isère department.
Main Rivers Joining the Ain
Smaller rivers that flow into a larger river are called tributaries. The Ain river has several important tributaries. These rivers add more water to the Ain as it flows.
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Rivers Joining from the Left:
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Rivers Joining from the Right:
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Gallery
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The place where the Ain river starts.
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The Ain river as it flows through Corveissiat.
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A view of Pont-du-Navoy and the Ain river.
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A bridge crossing the Ain River at Pont-du-Navoy.
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Related pages
Images for kids
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Salins-les-Bains in the glaciated landscape of the upper Ain.
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Source of the Ain
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The Cize–Bolozon viaduct, a road–rail bridge crossing the Ain gorge.
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The Gorges de l'Ain at Corveissiat
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The dam (barrage) at Cize-Bolozon
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See also
In Spanish: Río Ain para niños
