It is bordered on the north by Mieres, on the south by the province of León, on the east by Laviana, Caso, and Sobrescobio, and on the west by Lena.

The principal economic activity has been coal mining, especially in the lower part of the valley, while agriculture and ranching are also important.

Upriver is the municipal capital, Cabañaquinta, in the direction of which the landscape gradually transforms into a high mountain valley, which culminates in the San Isidro Pass (1,520 m), which lies along the border with the province of León.

Among the natural attractions of the region are the ravines of the Pino and Aller rivers, huge gorges carved into the foot of the mountains.

The municipality also offers a wide variety of routes that follow the paths of the traditional herdsmen from the villages at the foot of the mountains up the slopes.