The Etosha Pan Halophytics ecoregion is the remnant of a large, inland Pliocene lake. Today, the Etosha Pan is a dry, saline desert. Normally, the cracked, whitish clay is split into hexagonal salt-encrusted fragments, and wildlife is sustained only by surrounding freshwater springs. These springs attract a diverse array of large mammals, especially during the dry season, making it a popular tourist destination. In wet years, when the Ekuma, Oshigambo and Omuramba Ovambo rivers receive sufficient rainfall, the pan is transformed into a shallow lake.