Its name is composed of zrê ("sea") and the suffix -bar (which in Kurdish means "lake").

The lake is situated in the Iranian province of Kurdistan west of Marivan and has a length of 5 km (3.1 mi) and a maximum width of 1.6 km (0.99 mi).

The lake's water is fresh and has a maximum depth of 6 metres (20 ft).

Zeribar Lake is a major touristic attraction in the region.

There is a great deal of folklore about the origins of this lake amongst the Kurdish people of the area.