It occupies much of the wide floor of Stratherrick which runs roughly parallel to Loch Ness, around 3 mi (4.8 km) to its southeast.

The water level was raised, so it could be used as a reservoir for a hydro-electric scheme and associated aluminium smelter at Foyers.

The smelter closed in 1967, but the Loch is still used as a reservoir for a 300 MW pumped-storage hydroelectricity facility.

In its middle reaches, a broad and shallow embayment on its southeastern shore contains a scatter of islets.

The waters of the loch empty as the River Gourag below a dam at its southwestern end.