Located in the Middle Atlas, at an altitude of 1798 meters and part of the Ifrane National Park, this mountain lake is characterized by its large surface area and its very shallow depth. It is located in a karst depression with a flat bottom filled with basalts and fine deposits. The lake itself has a maximum area of 125 ha, but the wetland is followed by a humid lawn that surrounds the lake.

There are 31 species of waterbirds in Lake Afennourir. Among these species, at least three are considered to be sedentary, therefore nesting in Lake Afennourir: the black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), the casarca shelduck and the crested coot. The site is home to at least three plant species that are rare or have a localized distribution in Morocco: Persicaria lapathifolia, Damasonium alisma and Juncus inflexus.