Namibia is known for its contrasting, dramatic, landscapes. The desolate Namib Desert is said to be the oldest in the world, with high, shifting, dunes and awe-inspiring sense of space. The central plateau, with its thorn bush savannah and rugged mountains, rises abruptly from the plains, giving way to the majestic Fish River Canyon in the south. In the north of the country, landscapes range from dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to woodland savannah and lush vegetation. Dinosaur footprints preserved in sandstone, prehistoric rock art, and the ancient fossil plant, Welwitschia Mirabilis, all bear witness to the timelessness of this country.