Its source is in Lake Porkuni in Pandivere (Lääne-Viru County) and it drains into Hara Bay (part of Finnish Gulf) at Loksa (Harju County).

Its drainage basin is long and narrow, dominated by forests and wetlands (more than 2/3 of total area).

[1] Agricultural land use is concentrated in the upper section of drainage basin, while forests dominate in the middle and lower sections, where the river borders the Põhja-Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve and flows through Lahemaa National Park.

The towns of Loksa (in the mouth) and Tapa (about 17 km from the source) are the only significant settlements on the river.

[2] The waterfall and Nõmmeveski Canyon (several tens of meters deep and a few hundred meters long) are a popular tourist destination in Lahemaa National Park.