At an elevation of 1,578 metres (5,177 ft), it has a surface area of 1.1147 square kilometres (0.4304 sq mi).

The lake was created by a giant landslide and is fed through a series of mountain creeks and drains underground.

A gondola lift from Kandersteg leads to Oeschinen, 25 minutes by foot from the lake.

Since 2007 the lake has been part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The reason for this is the danger of an imminent rockfall on the south shore, which is why paths are closed there.