It is in a high plateau depression at an elevation of 334 metres (1,096 ft) "formed by a huge polje karst formation".

[5] In the absence of continuous surface water flow, the invertebrates found in the lake and in the river consist of macroinvertebrate belonging to 57 families but sans decapod crustaceans.

[5] The Island pitviper (Trimeresurus insularis) and wood scorpions (Lychas mucronatus) are reported in the flood plains of the lake.

They are not hunted by local people as they is their totem animal connected to their creation story and known as "lafaek" in the Tetum language.

[5] The local dialect name is ‘‘beo’’, the Tetum name is "lenok kakorok ular" and an alternative English name is Timor long-necked turtle.

One of globally threatened bird species reported is the yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphur), which is considered critically endangered.

Other species reported are: Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), wandering whistling duck (Dendrocygna arcuata), common coot (Fulica atra), Swinhoe's snipe (Gallinago megala), Australasian grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Timor green pigeon (Treron psittaceus), cinnamon-banded kingfisher (Todiramphus australasia), spot-breasted white-eye (Heleia muelleri), and black-banded flycatcher (Ficedula timorensis).