Lough Fern (Irish: Loch Fearna)[4] is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in north County Donegal near the town of Milford.

Lough Fern
Location in Ireland
Location	County Donegal
Coordinates	55°3′32″N 7°43′9″W
Native name	Loch Fearna (Irish)
Primary inflows	River Leannan
Primary outflows	River Leannan
Catchment area	206.17 km2 (79.6 sq mi)
Basin countries	Ireland
Max. length	2.3 km (1 mi)
Max. width	0.8 km (0.5 mi)
Surface area	1.81 km2 (0.70 sq mi)
Average depth	2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Max. depth	3 m (10 ft)
Surface elevation	18.7 m (61 ft)
Islands	2
References	[1][2][3]

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.[3] It measures about 2 km (1.2 mi) long and 0.8 km (0.5 mi) wide.[2] The lake has two islands at its northern end, including one crannog.[3]

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.[2][3][5]

Natural history

Fish species in Lough Fern include brown trout, salmon, three-spined stickleback, perch and the critically endangered European eel.[6] Lough Fern is part of the Leannan River Special Area of Conservation.[3][5]

See also

• List of loughs in Ireland

References