[1][2] The lake's water area is divided between the municipalities of Lauerz, Schwyz and Steinen.

The lake's outflow is at Seewen and takes the form of the Seeweren, a 1.5 km (0.93 mi) long stream.

[2] The 1806 Goldau landslide impacted the lake and caused a tsunami 20 metres (65.6 ft) high.

This damaged the villages of Lauerz and Seewen and the island of Schwanau, and partly filled the lake.

More recently, floods in 1999 and 2005 have affected lakeside properties, especially in Lauerz, and attempts have been made to control the water level by connecting Lake Lauerz through a tunnel to Lake Lucerne.