[1][2] The river flows in the northern area of Sumatra with predominantly tropical rainforest climate (designated as Af in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification).

The warmest month is February, when the average temperature is around 26 °C, and the coldest is May, at 22 °C.

[5] The area of the river is located on the Great Sumatran Fault Zone, providing the area with an abundance of geothermal energy sources and hot water springs, while also increasing the frequency of large earthquakes.

[7] The Batang Toru hydropower project has started work on a dam and tunnel, financed by China, which is meant to provide electric power during 6 hours a day.

[7] As of 2022, Indonesian state-owned electronic distribution company Perusahaan Listrik Negara has also started to work with Indonesian private companies to establish a hydropower on the river.