The lake is located in the western Dolomites in the Latemar Forest, almost 20 kilometers southeast of Bolzano at an altitude of 1,520 m in the municipality of Welschnofen. The closest settlement is Karersee. The 300 m long and 140 m wide body of water is fed by underground springs from the Latemar mountain range. The depth and size of the lake are noticeably dependent on the season and the weather, the greatest depth is given as around 22 m. In winter, the lake is sometimes visited by divers who carry out their dives under a thick layer of ice and record the underwater play of colors in documentaries. The small mountain lake is famous above all for its deep green water and the mountain backdrop rising above the surrounding forest with the Latemar group in the south and the rose garden in the northeast as the background. There are many South Tyrolean legends surrounding the lake, and numerous painters and writers chose the motif for their paintings or stories.
The lake can be reached via the SS 241 state road (Eggentaler Staatsstraße - also known as the Dolomites road). The road to the Karer Pass, which is very busy, especially in summer, passes the lake in the immediate vicinity. The lake is fenced and its banks are not allowed to be entered.