The boundaries of the Geopark correspond roughly with the north-west part of Saxony's volcanic rock valley, which covers an area of over 900 square kilometres, and which is one of central Europe's largest volcanic areas. Huge volcanic eruptions in the Rotliegend times, approx. 300 million years ago, left behind powerful deposits of lava and clouds of embers, which today, constitute valuable raw materials (quartz porphyry, porphyry tuffs, ignimbrite etc.). During the tertiary period beginning 65 million years ago, with its humid-warm climate, the volcanic rocks weathered profoundly. Today's kaolin deposits formed as a result. Today, the weathering-resistant rock areas form the summits of this hilly landscape. During the Elster and Saale glacial periods, these volcanic rocks were markedly modified. The glaciers ground the mountains down and gave them the appearance of whales' backs (humps). The direction of the ice masses' advance during the glacial period can be identified by analysing the shape of the rocks. Visible grindings from glaciers were left behind on the rock.
The testimonies to the Rotliegend volcanic activity and traces on the porphyry still visible today can be explored as significant geotopes of national standing in the "Porphyryland" Geopark.
Due to to its location in north-west or central Saxony, the Geopark, between Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz, can be reached in under an hour by car. It offers hiking and cycling, as well as water touring. Within the Geopark, cyclists can not only ride along the Mulde, but also between the Mulde and Elbe, Mulde and Parthe, as well as along the Zschopau. The signposted Mulde cycle path traverses the whole area, from the South to the North, and runs through several towns, passing several geotopes. A section of the Jacobspilger trail and of the Luther Trail Saxony run through the Geopark, which can be also be walked along, just like the Muldental hiking trail. At certain times of day, water touring is possible on the fast, long Mulde, dammed for energy production, thanks to the many weirs, with a profound nature experience awaiting on the river course. As a European bird conservation area, is completely protected.