Lunca Cernii de Jos (Hungarian: Alsónyiresfalva, German: Birkendorf) is a commune in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of eight villages: Ciumița (Csumicapuszta), Fântâna (Vádtelep), Gura Bordului, Lunca Cernii de Jos, Lunca Cernii de Sus (Felsőnyiresfalva), Meria (Kékesfalva), Negoiu (Nyegojlunka), and Valea Babii.

The commune is located in the southwestern part of the county. The nearest city is Hunedoara, 46 km (29 mi) distant; the county seta, Deva, is 70 km (43 mi) to the northeast. Lunca Cernii de Jos is situated among the foothills of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains. The average altitude is 850 m (2,790 ft), and the terrain is hilly. The commune borders two other counties, Caraș-Severin and Timiș.

Name	Population (2011)	Coordinates
Ciumița	0	45°39′49″N 22°34′44″E / 45.66361°N 22.57889°E / 45.66361; 22.57889
Fântâna	25	45°40′10″N 22°35′29″E / 45.66944°N 22.59139°E / 45.66944; 22.59139
Gura Bordului	58	45°38′12″N 22°31′56″E / 45.63667°N 22.53222°E / 45.63667; 22.53222
Lunca Cernii de Jos	157	45°37′59″N 22°37′0″E / 45.63306°N 22.61667°E / 45.63306; 22.61667
Lunca Cernii de Sus	229	45°38′21″N 22°35′3″E / 45.63917°N 22.58417°E / 45.63917; 22.58417
Meria	246	45°39′38″N 22°38′1″E / 45.66056°N 22.63361°E / 45.66056; 22.63361
Negoiu	171	45°36′39″N 22°33′48″E / 45.61083°N 22.56333°E / 45.61083; 22.56333
Valea Babii	19	45°37′27″N 22°34′25″E / 45.62417°N 22.57361°E / 45.62417; 22.57361

The name of the commune derives from lunca ("valley") of the Cerna River. Lunca Cernii de Jos and Lunca Cernii de Sus lie for 11 km (6.8 mi) along the river valley; the local peasantry works in animal husbandry and logging. Meria is located on a mountainside at over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) altitude, separated from other villages by high peaks, deep valleys and dense forest. Negoiu is situated in the Negoiului and Sterminosului valleys.

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  Gura Bordului
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  Lunca Cernii de Sus
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  Peasant family in Meria (1911)