Together with the Western and Central Ore Mountains, it is part of the larger Saxon Highlands and Uplands region.
Its southern continuation beyond the German border covers an area of roughly the same extent in the Czech Republic.
In the northeast it borders on Saxon Switzerland, the German (northern) side of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, at Bad Gottleuba.
In the south, the crest of the mountain range closely follows the state border with the Czech Republic.
The region includes the prominent Geisingberg peak as well as the Georgenfelder Hochmoor protected area.