The site includes the famous 10.4 meter Kivach waterfall on the Suna River.

The reserve's terrain is found in three main types: rocky ridges (the highest point is 160 meters above sea level), hilly glacial moraines, and Quaternary glacial-lake plains.

[2] Kivach is located in the Scandinavian and Russian taiga ecoregion, which covers Northern Europe between tundra in the north and temperate mixed forests in the south.

The ecoregion is characterized by coniferous forests dominated by Pinus sylvestris (in drier locations), often with an understory of Juniperus communis, Picea abies and Picea obovata and a significant admixture of Betula pubescens and Betula pendula.

This climate is characterized by long cold winters, and short, cool summers.