[2] The diameter of the lake is 102 metres (335 ft); its depth is supposedly more than 91.44 meters, according to scans.

When the Herero moved into the area, they named it Otjikoto (Otjiherero: "deep hole").

[6] The lake was a dumping ground for German Schutztruppe during World War I; in June 1915 German troops dumped war materials in the lake before surrendering to stop the South African and British troops from using them.

Most of the larger pieces have been recovered and are displayed in the Tsumeb Museum, but at least two cannons, along with quantities of ammunition, are still in the lake[7] and can be viewed with a special diving permit.

[6][8] Botanist Kurt Dinter visited the lake in 1911 and collected several hitherto unknown species of plants, among them grass of the genus Rottboellia.