It is located close to the city of Ranya, and is a reservoir on the Little Zab created by the construction of the Dukan Dam.

[3][4] The inhabitants of some 50 villages in the flooded area, around 1,000–1,200 families, were resettled to the west of the lake.

[5] The surface area of the lake is 270 square kilometres (100 sq mi).

In order to operate the power station, the surface elevation must be between 469 and 511 metres (1,539 and 1,677 ft).

The drainage basin of the Dukan Dam is 11,700 square kilometres (4,500 sq mi).