Although a very rare occurrence, every few years, after a good rainy season the Tsauchab River flows into the dam and creates a lake, a haven for water birds in the middle of a sea of sand and is a spectacular sight.

At the entry to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon a result of erosion over many centuries. A narrow gorge of about one kilometre in length was formed about 30 to 40 metres deep. Early explorers had to tie six lengths of thongs together to draw water from the pools in the canyon, hence the name “Sesriem”.