[1] The river is fed by snow and rain, and from November till April it is usually frozen.

The river originates in the coniferous forests of Kirov Oblast where the area is thinly populated by the Russians and Mari people.

This area is also thinly populated and the Bolshaya Kokshaga nature reserve is located there.

The Bolshaya Kokshaga flows to the Kuybyshev Reservoir, and then to the Volga near Kokshaysk, Mari El.

In summer the river become shallow and the riverbed becomes blocked with logs floating downstreams.