title: Lough Fern
text: # 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.
  
  