Lough Fern
# Lough Fern

Lough Fern (Irish: Loch Fearna) is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in north County Donegal near the town of Milford.

## Geography

Lough Fern is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of Milford, on the R246 road, and 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Letterkenny. It measures about 2 km (1.2 mi) long and 0.8 km (0.5 mi) wide. The lake has two islands at its northern end, including one crannog.

## Hydrology

Lough Fern is fed mainly by the River Leannan entering at its southern end and also by a stream entering at the northern end. The lake drains eastwards into the continuation of the Leannan, which in turn enters Lough Swilly at Rathmelton.

## Natural history

Fish species in Lough Fern include brown trout, salmon, three-spined stickleback, perch and the critically endangered European eel. Lough Fern is part of the Leannan River Special Area of Conservation.

