The perennial lake had an elongated shape in northwest-southeast direction and reached a maximum depth of and extent of during stages of high water levels, making it one of the largest former lakes of Arabia. It is possible that it was not one contiguous water body, but rather several separate lakes or an extended wetland. The lake was fed by wadis coming from the Asir Mountains to the west and contained freshwater, although there is also evidence for brackish water. Carbonate sediments formed when parts of the lake bed fell dry.
