It is located on the Polish side of the highest mountain in Poland; Mount Rysy.

[1] A walking path circumnavigates the lake, and leads up to Mount Rysy, or down to Morskie Oko.

The area of Czarny Staw is approximately 0.079 sq mi (0.20 km2), with a maximum depth of 76.4 m and capacity Of 7,761,700 m³ of water.

The lake is almost completely surrounded by a high ridge consisting of Kazalnica Mięguszowiecka, Mięguszowiecki Szczyt Czarny through to Wołowy Grzbiet, Rysy, Niżnie Rysy, Żabia Grań with Żabi Szczyt Wyżni, Żabi Mnich and Owcze Turniczki.

The meltwater of Czarny Staw falls in small cascades down to Morskie Oko, creating a waterfall called Czarnostawiańska Siklawa