While much of Hardap and Karas is fairly flat, there is also much scenic beauty to be admired, especially along the escarpment, the coast, in the Namib, the Karas Mountains and, of course, the famous Fish River canyon and the Orange River. The absence of people adds more to the wilderness value of many areas, since the majority and a growing proportion of people live in towns. Although much has been done to emphasise and promote the idea of rural development, it is a simple fact the low rainfall, poor soils and absence of markets and infrastructure make rural life particularly harsh.