The area includes the municipality of Orșova and the town of Moldova Nouă, as well as several communes (Socol, Pojejena, Coronini, Gârnic, Sichevița, Berzasca, Svinița, Dubova, Eșelnița, Ilovița, and Breznița-Ocol).
[2] The term was applied by the Byzantines to fortified mountain districts controlling important passes.
The region is located in southern Romanian Banat, along the northern bank of the river Danube, at the border with Serbia.
The settlements lie in the foothills and river banks below the Banat mountains of Locva and Almăj.
Historically, the region belonged to the Banatian Military Frontier of the Habsburg monarchy, and was divided into "Vlach" (Romanian) and Serb sections.