The lake is situated at the southern edge of the Totes Gebirge mountains in the parish of Pürgg-Trautenfels near the municipality Wörschachwald.

The lake is named after the Specht family, former residents in Stainach who lived on the so-called Spechtengut (Specht Estate) (nowadays Schloss Sonnhof (Sonnhof Manor House)) until the end of the 19th century.

The lake is drained by the Wörschachbach [ceb; sv], which flows through the gorge of Wörschach Gorge [ceb; de; sv] into the Enns valley.

The European white water lily flourishes in the southern part of the lake and signal crayfish are bred here.

[1] In addition around the lake are conglomerates of the mainly Late Cretaceous Gosau Group.