It is one of the rivers flowing into Lake Baikal, and is 272 kilometres (169 mi) long, with a drainage basin of 5,870 square kilometres (2,270 sq mi).

It flows roughly westwards and southwestwards through rugged mountain terrain.

[3][4] The main tributaries of the Turka are the Yambuy, Golonda, Ara-Khurtak, Uta, Urykta, Osinovka and Kotochik.

Lake Kotokel lies 7.5 km (4.7 mi) southwest of the river mouth.

The villages of Zolotoy Klyuch and Sobolikha are located by the Turka.