[1] Burney is the second-largest impact feature known on Pluto, after the massive basin that encloses the glacial plains of Sputnik Planitia.

[7][3]: 142  The structure of Burney resembles that of the Mare Orientale basin on the Moon, with a series of concentric peak rings that enclose a central depression.

By contrast, Burney's floor is poor in methane ice and much smoother than the surrounding plains, possibly from differences in erosion or from heavier glaciation.

This terrain is characterized by parallel ridges spaced 1–2 kilometres (0.62–1.24 miles) apart and covers large parts of Burney's basin floor.

One hypothesis for the origin of the washboard terrain is from the collection and deposition of material from an ancient period of heavy regional glaciation.