It is a rugged area with little vegetation, lying over 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level, and which has distinctive species, ecology, relief and hydrography.

According to the dictionary of the Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua,[3] achala means 'fancy dress' or 'striking costume'.

These slopes and plains allowed for the formation of an intricate underground water network that supplies a great number of springs.

In general access to them is difficult due to the rugged terrain, often inaccessible to any vehicle (including those with all-wheel drive) and thus can only be reached on foot, by mule or on horseback.

After traveling nearly 40 km from Tanti, and climb over 1,700 meters you reach the far north of the region, more precisely at the foot of the massif 'Los Gigantes'.

This road is also known as Camino de las Altas Cumbres or route Jorge Raúl Recalde, in tribute to this rally racer.

The geological history of these, dating back 15 million years, with the formation of a sedimentary basin which was then subjected to enormous strain as a result of horizontal pressure.

Elevated basement blocks are reverse faults of approximately north-south direction, west verging, which are composed by metamorphic rock and Igneous of the Neoproterozoic in the Palaeozoic.

The tectonic forces at work in the Andean folding were horizontal pressures generated from the west and due to the rigidity of the underlying material caused the existence of faults, almost all north-south and an alignment of the strings accordingly.

The brittle tectonic Andica is represented by reverse faults among which stand out in the hills of Cordoba those high peaks, the Giants, Copina and Cumbrecita.

An intricate network of streams, ponds, lakes and springs give this region the characteristic function as a 'sponge' that absorbs and retains the moisture throughout the year, channeling it into the water sources which supplied much of the population of the province.

[6] The northern part of Pampa de Achala is more even and continupusly soil cover making it a good grazing land.

[6] This particular eco-region, as defined by the convergence of the biogeographical provinces of Chaqueña del Espinal, Pampeana and Mountain, has been influenced by many types of flora and fauna.

It is regarded as an "island" due to its specific biogeographical characteristics and it is thus distinguished from other areas within the environment of Chaco by its altitude and the species that inhabit it.

[9] The greatest density of these woods is in the bottoms of the ravines, where they acquire a low forest physiognomy with great quantities of ferns and epiphytes.

Below the 1,500 metre line, the tough grasslands of the high altitudes are replaced by thickets in which the romerillo (Heterothalamus alienus) predominates.

[6] The characteristics of this area primarily correspond to the Andean-Patagonian region, with the typical species of the plain encountered at an altitude that limits their distribution.

Biologists and birdwatchers from around the world travel to Pampa de Achala to observe the endemic species of the region.

Eleven subspecies and species of birds of the Passeriform order of Andean-Patagonian lineage are exclusive to this area, including: rufous-banded miner,[15] common miner,[16][17] bar-winged cinclodes,[18] white-winged cinclodes,[19] cordilleran canastero,[20] puna castanero, white-tailed shrike-tyrant,[21] cinereous ground tyrant,[22] plain-colored seedeater,[23] plumbeous sierra finch[24] (also known as yal plomizo) and ash-breasted sierra finch[25] (also called yal chico), long-tailed meadowlark[26] (Sturnella loyca obscura), which nests in the ground and in large, oddly-shaped rocks.

The most inaccessible cliff walls are used as nesting sites by the black-chested buzzard-eagle (Geranoetus melanoleucus), the peregrine falcon[27] (Falco peregrinus) and the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus).

Along the arroyos are well-watered areas (fertile plains, marshes) and reed beds where the native coral snake Liophis anomalus (Spanish: culebra listada) [33] feeds on the local tree frog Hyla pulchella (Spanish: ranitas de zarzal or "bramble-patch frogs").

Regrettably the goal can never be reached, as secret fishing is constant and difficult to control, and has caused the loss of very many species.

Despite the difficulties of living in Pampa de Achela, schools exist in the region (including Ceferino Namuncurá, Padre Liqueno, among others) that serve as convergence points for inhabitants of the area.

Some schools have to offset their academic terms due to inclement weather in the winter (consisting of temperatures regularly approaching −20 °C (−4 °F), accompanied by strong winds and snow), causing classes to be suspended until spring.

Some areas (particularly Los Gigantes) have high mountain ranges are used by climbers, both amateur and professional, as well as Scout groups.

While the current route is relatively new (the project dates from the late 1950s), the original existed before the twentieth century and is known as a path of suspension bridges.

Its construction is due to the tireless work of the priest José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, more famously known as the Cura Gaucho.