The large island of Magerøya and the Porsanger Peninsula lie along the western shore of the fjord, and the Sværholt Peninsula lies along the eastern shore of the fjord.

The Helnes Lighthouse sits at the mouth of the fjord, on the western coast.

Other settlements along the fjord include the villages of Brenna, Børselv, Indre Billefjord, Kistrand, Olderfjord, Repvåg, and Nordvågen.

A 50,290-hectare (502.9 km2; 194.2 sq mi) area comprising the inner (southern) part of the fjord, as well as several small islands and a strip along the mid-eastern shore, has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of many birds, including lesser white-fronted geese, long-tailed ducks, common eiders, velvet scoters, red-breasted mergansers, bar-tailed godwits, red knots and purple sandpipers.

Habitats include mudflats, heathland, grassland, salt marsh, mires and birch forest.