Location County Donegal Primary outflows River Leannan Max. length 2.3 km (1 mi) Surface elevation 19 m Catchment area 206.2 km² Province Ulster Number of islands 2 | Primary inflows Basin countries Ireland Max. width 0.8 km (0.5 mi) Area 181 ha Catchment area 206.2 km² | |
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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.
Contents
Map of Lough Fern, Co. Donegal, Ireland
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.