Lake Geneva's reserves and natural habitats: where to keep clear

Waterbird reserves (OROEM)

On the Swiss side, several parts of the lake are federal reserves for waterbirds and migratory birds. This is federal law: it applies on the water even without buoys. The ordinance notably prohibits disturbing the animals, hunting, kitesurfing (boards pulled by a kite) and floating model boats; dogs must be kept on a lead. Each reserve's own rules (boundary, season, navigation) are in its official fact sheet.

• OROEM reserve no. 11 — Rive droite du Petit-Lac — official fact sheet
• OROEM reserve no. 11 — Rive droite du Petit-Lac (Mies / Versoix sector) — official fact sheet
• OROEM reserve no. 118 — Rive gauche du Petit-Lac — official fact sheet
• Les Grangettes (OROEM reserve no. 8), at the head of the lake, at the mouth of the Rhône.

From October to March, rafts of diving ducks (pochards, mergansers, goldeneyes) often gather offshore: keep your distance from the flocks.

French side: Natura 2000 and protected areas

The French shore is part of the Natura 2000 “Lac Léman” site. The special police regulations for Lake Geneva add specific zones there:

• a 50 m zone in front of emergent lake vegetation, where swimming and diving are prohibited;
• the reed beds of Coudrée Bay, closed to all navigation;
• the Dranse estuary, a nature reserve with its own restrictions;
• the char spawning grounds of Meillerie, the Dranse and Ripaille, protected in winter.

Natura 2000 sectors marked on the map:

• Chens-sur-Léman sector (reed beds)
• la Sablonnière (Chens-sur-Léman)
• Messery sector (shoreweed)
• Coudrée Bay

Lakeshore habitats

CIPEL lists the natural habitats around the shore: aquatic plant beds (a weedy bottom gives poor anchor holding and shelters spawn), reed beds (breeding areas, no entry under engine), gravel shores, floodplain forests and river mouths (murky water, current, a shoal that shifts after floods). These are fragile habitats: skirt them, don't cross them.

Nature spots to visit

12 reserves, islands, forests and river mouths to discover from the lake or on foot. Some can only be approached on foot, and navigation there is sometimes prohibited.

• Réserve naturelle du delta de la Dranse on the map — thonon-leman-tourisme.com
• Les Grangettes (OROEM reserve no. 8) on the map — data.geo.admin.ch
• Île de La Harpe on the map — rolle.ch
• Centre Nature de la Pointe à la Bise on the map (Vésenaz (Collonge-Bellerive)) — pronatura-ge.ch
• Île de Peilz on the map — api3.geo.admin.ch
• Forêt de Ripaille (arboretum) on the map — ripaille.fr
• Réserve naturelle du Delta de la Dranse (Publier side) on the map — thonon-leman-tourisme.com
• Forêt du Domaine de Coudrée on the map (Sciez)
• Embouchure du Boiron on the map (Tolochenaz) — morges.ch
• Embouchure de la Venoge on the map — pronatura-vd.ch
• “L'île aux oiseaux de Préverenges” nature reserve on the map — pronatura-vd.ch
• Domaine de Guidou on the map — inpn.mnhn.fr

Nature centres and lake aquariums

7 places on land to discover the lake and its inhabitants: nature centres (microscopes, exhibitions, workshops, observation towers) and aquariums of Lake Geneva fish. Opening hours are often seasonal: check the venue's website before you go.

• Espace Léman — nature centre devoted to the lake (ASL) on the map (Geneva) — asleman.org
• La Libellule — nature centre at the Pavillon Plantamour on the map (Geneva) — lalibellule.ch
• Centre nature de la Pointe à la Bise (Pro Natura Genève) on the map (Collonge-Bellerive) — pronatura-ge.ch
• La Maison de la Rivière on the map (Tolochenaz) — morges-tourisme.ch
• Musée du Léman and its aquariums on the map (Nyon) — museeduleman.ch
• Écomusée de la pêche et du lac on the map (Thonon-les-Bains) — ville-thonon.fr
• Les jardins de l'eau du Pré Curieux on the map (Évian-les-Bains) — evian-tourisme.com

With the Navleman map

Natural habitats and Lake birds menus: reserves, habitats, nature centres and waterbird reserves. The “Restricted areas” map layer in the Harbours and safety menu shows areas closed to swimming or navigation.

Open the Lake Geneva map

See also

The Nature, fishing and diving guide, and: Fishing, Diving.