The size and volume of water in the lakes varies greatly with the region's multi-decadal rainfall and climate cycles.

[14] During high-water years, Barun-Torey lake has an area of 550 km2 (210 sq mi), with a volume of 1.4 km3 (0.34 cu mi); the average depth is 2.5 m, with a maximum depth of 4.3 m. In low-water years, the lake shrinks dramatically and can dry up completely.

Once the surfaces of the two lakes are levelled up, the wind and other factors induce changes in the direction of the current in the channel.

[16] During the aridification of Zun-Torey lake, four stages of changes in the planktonic associations were identified; the phytoplankton decreased in abundance and biomass, and was dominated by green algae and diatoms; the number of zooplankton species decreased but zooplankton's total abundance and biomass increased as the number of individuals increased in some crustacean species.

[2] The lakes support significant breeding populations of several threatened bird species, including the red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), white-naped crane (Grus vipio), swan goose (Anser cygnoides), great bustard (Otis tarda), and relict gull (Ichthyaetus relictus).

[2] An area of 172,500 ha (426,000 acres), including both lakes and adjacent wetlands and uplands, was designated a Ramsar Site on September 13, 1994.

[1] A 2020 satellite imagery showed Mongolian plans to build a dam on the Uldza River which would potentially disrupt the natural water cycle and harm the fine balance in the ecosystem.