Both lakes lie in a graben which runs northeast–southwest, east of the main African Rift Valley.

Lake Chiuta is 3–4 meters deep and ranges in size from 25 to 130 square kilometers, depending on the season and rainfall.

Lake Chiuta can desiccate completely (Owen et al.

Mean Depth: 1.13 metres (3 ft 8 in) / average surface area: 199 square kilometres (77 sq mi) / average volume: 0.225 cubic kilometres (0.054 cu mi) / encatchment area: 1,755 square kilometres (678 sq mi) (Ojda 1994) Predominant commercial fish species are Oreochromis shiranus shiranus (Chambo), Clarias gariepinus (Mlamba), and Barbus paludinosus (Matemba).

(Ojda 1994) Dominating aquatic macrophytes are Potamogeton welwitschii + Ceratophyllum demersum (submerged), Eleocharis dulcis, Oryza barthii, Vossia cuspidata, etc.