It is characterized by its production of apples and by tourism, mainly in the tourist towns of Barreal and Tamberías Several meanings that have been given to indigenous root of this word.

Transforming Catalve "(River of the hillside), as the area was called Calingasta prior to the arrival of the Spaniards.

Its boundaries are: Calingasta has a rugged, mountainous topography due to its location at the foot of the Andes.

The precordillera range is the Sierra del Tontal, separating the region from the arid plains to the east.

The climate is mostly desert with little precipitation, highlighting marked thermal variations, with notable differences in temperature between night and day.