The lake formed following the collapse of a slope due to the earthquake of January 23, 1838 at 18:45, measuring 6.9 magnitude on the Richter scale, VIII intensity.

[2]: 124 According to measurements in 1987, the lake has a perimeter of 2,830 m (9,280 ft), and covers an area of 11.4676 ha (28.337 acres);[3] the volume of water that accumulates is 587,503 cubic metres (768,425 cu yd).

The Red Lake is located between Suhardul Mic and Suhardul Mare peaks on the north side, the Podu Calului Mountains to the south-west, the Licaș and Chișhovoș Mountains to the north-west, the Făgetul Ciucului peak to the north-east, and Muntele Ucigaș (The Killer Mount) to the east.

The lake is powered by four large streams and 12 temporary water courses, of which the most important are Vereșchiu, Licaș, Suhardul, and Pârâul Oii (Oaia).

It is essential that the lake was formed by moving the clay mass deposited during the last ice age on the north-western slope of Mount Ghilcoș.