It impounds the River Bode and lies between Königshütte and Susenburg (both in the borough of Oberharz am Brocken).

It is a so-called storage reservoir (Überleitungssperre) forming part of the Rappbode Dam system.

It is an 18 metre high gravity dam, made of concrete, for the supply of drinking water and for flood protection.

A quiet concrete road from Königshütte runs along the northern side of the reservoir as far as the dam.

On the south side a wide footpath leads back to Königshütte, which passes the confluence of the Kalte and Warme Bode.