The name Abra Pampa is a mix of the archaic Spanish word common among sailors - 'abra' (short opening), which in the region has the meaning of ravine, and 'pampa' is a Quechua word meaning 'plain', i.e., 'ravine' (and) 'plain', in fact, this city is located on a plateau near several canyons, especially areas that lie to the east and that connect with the Chaco Pampean regions of Argentina.

The famous Inca Trail passed through Puna, connecting the northern highlands and Cuzco with what is now Chile and Mendoza.

There were migrations into what is now Puna Argentina from other parts of the highlands, possibly from mitimaes, colonies which the Incas settled along the borders of their empire.

Typical for this region of the Altiplano, Abra Pampa has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with two distinct seasons.

In spite of being in the tropics, the extreme diurnals make average winter nights resemble those of the upper Nordics and the Great Plains of North America.

Livestock is represented by goats, llamas (American camelids) and sheep and is of vital importance for the city that was founded on August 30, 1883, with the name of Siberia Argentina.

On the left bank of the River Miraflores, it is set on a large plateau that can be located between the foothills El Aguilar and Cochinoca mountains.

The Vicuñera de Miraflores, where semi-wild vicuñas are raised, lies within walking distance of the town, in an experimental INTA station.