The water level fluctuates during the year: It dramatically increases after the ice melting, and then stabilizes until January.

[3] The reservoir includes the lower course of the Shosha, its right tributary, the Lama, and the Soz.

In particular, it includes the cities and towns of Dubna, Konakovo, Kuvshinovo, Likhoslavl, Ostashkov, Rzhev, Staritsa, Tver, Torzhok, Volokolamsk, and Zubtsov.

The historic town of Korcheva and a number of villages were submerged as the reservoir was filled.

In total, an area of 254.60 square kilometres (98.30 sq mi) went under water.