[2] Malye Chany is part of the Baraba Lowland, West Siberian Plain.

The Chulym river enters the lake from the eastern shore.

In the northwestern corner there is the Kozhurla Sound (Протока Кожурла), a narrow 3.5 kilometers (2.2 mi) long channel connecting with Lake Chany to the north.

Lake Yarkul lies 20 kilometers (12 mi) to the WNW.

[3][2][4] There are seasonal fluctuations in the lake level, with the surface reaching a maximum of approximately 200 square kilometers (77 sq mi) and a minimum of 190 square kilometers (73 sq mi).