This region is a foreland tectonic trench filled with sedimentary sea rocks originating from Miocene (24-5,5 million years ago). Most valuable natural resources like oil, salt, sulfur, natural gas and plaster can be found among those rocks.

In Quaternary the depression was filled by the ice during the southern Polish glaciation which left there sands, clay and loam. On the areas covered by the sands, inland dunes were created. The landscape consists of  slightly undulated plains located at the height of 150 to 200 m asl. The lowest bottom of the valley lies at 138 m asl, and the highest peaks reach 280 m asl.

Northern Sub-Carpathia is one of the warmest regions in Poland. The summer is warm, with the average temperature in July reaching 19°C. Winters are short and the temperature in January varies from -3°C to -5°C. The average yearly rainfall amounts to 800 mm.

This province is divided into four macroregions which differ in size one from another: Three Valleys (Ostrawska, Oswiecimska and Sandomierska) and connecting them so called Brama Krakowska (Krakow Gate).

Kotlina Ostrawska (Ostrawska Valley) is located on the area of over 600 sq km, mostly within the borders of Czech Republic. The Polish part of the region has 130 sq km. This province is highly industrialized and urbanized, especially in the Czech part of the region. The mining of coal and the development of steel industry have degraded the environment in this part of Northern Sub-Carpathia.

Kotlina Oswiecimska (Oswiecimska Valley) occupies the area of around 1200 sq km. It is located by the upper course of Vistula River and consists of three units with diverse landscapes. The Valley of the Vistula river with its dunes is located in the central part of this province. It borders on the sandy Pszczynska Plain, covered mostly with pine forests, from the north-west and from the south on Pogorze Wilamowickie, a region with fertile soil. Numerous fish-ponds and an artificial water basin on the Vistula river (Goczalkowickie lake) are the characteristic features of the Oswiecimska Valley.

Brama Krakowska (Krakow Gate) is a link between Oswiecimska and Sandomierska Valleys and occupies the area of 275 sq km. This region is characterized by the presence of calcareous hills. The Vistula river in this part of the Northern Sub-Carpathia is 5-6 km wide. The city of Krakow is located in the eastern part of this province, which greatly influences the environment of the region.

Kotlina Sandomierska (Sandomierska Valley) is the biggest unit within the borders of this region and is located on the area of 15 000 sq km. The sedimentary rocks of this region contain natural treasures like salt (Wieliczka, Bochnia), plaster, sulfur (Tarnobrzeg), natural gas and oil. The remnants of the big medieval forests are: Niepolomicki, Sandomierski  and Sokolski Primeval Forests.