The lake and waterfall are located in the Tortum district, 100 km (62 mi) north of Erzurum in Eastern Anatolia Region.

These experts, among whom are to be counted a number of foreign geologists, believe that the landslide took place at the end of the Quaternary period.

Other opinions state that the landslide is comparatively recent and occurred only a few centuries ago.

After the waterfall (with its drop of 48 m (157 ft)), the river flows over a series of cascades until its arrival in the Tev Valley.

Four small lakes were formed on the rubble from the landslide by water seeping from underground through the material from the rock fall.