The lake is the richest in fish species in Sweden, including pike, salmon, burbot, vendace, bream, ide, ruffe, minnow, rudd, and spined loach, rare for this area, which has prompted biodiversity conservation efforts and attention from among others EU Natura 2000.

It is surrounded by hills with deciduous forests and valleys with fertile soil, and is located in a climate zone suitable for fruit tree cultivation.

Ivö is a place of geological interest as it contains relict landforms and fossils dating to the Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous epoch.

[1] The site is illustrative of the deep weathering process that led to the formation of the Sub-Mesozoic hilly relief that covers much of Sweden and Norway.

[3] Stomiopeltites ivoeensis, a species of fossil (Cretaceous) fungi (Ascomycota, Dothideomycetes, order Micropeltidiales) found in a nearby quarry was named after the lake.