Lake Çıldır is located at an elevation of approximately 1,959 m (6,427 ft) and is surrounded by a mountainous region.

The area around the lake is primarily used for livestock farming, with little vegetation present and absence of agriculture due to harsh conditions.

[2] Its south shore may have been the location of the Etiuni, a tribal confederation frequently mentioned in the records of Urartu.

[3] The lake has an island near the shores of the village of Akçakale, where archaeological remains are preserved.

[4] Currently, Lake Çıldır connects to Arpaçay via an overflow channel that was opened on the basalts in the south.