The Valyrian Peninsula is a large, wide headland extending south from Essos into the Summer Sea, the heartland of the now extinct Valyrian Freehold and the location of its capital city, Valyria. Partially destroyed in the Doom, with many islands formed and low-lying areas flooded, becoming the Smoking Sea. The Valyrian Peninsula separates the Free Cities to the west from Slaver's Bay to the east. Following the Doom, it is sparsely inhabited: only three major cities exist, all at the north end which were far away from the Doom when it struck: Mantarys, Tolos, and Elyria.