From the first cautious steps in the Great Rift Valley, humans have adapted to the challenges of Africa. Today it lies divided into more nations than any other continent. But as shown by this satellite-derived map, landscapes that ignore national borders form a mosaic of ecosystems that subtly blend one into the other—from the temperate Mediterranean through desert and scattered croplands to forest, swamp, and savanna—each with its own rules for life. Published in September 2005 as half of a two–map set with "Africa: The Human Footprint."