Southwest Asia and Northern Africa (SWANA) is an area that has been around for a long, long time. It's said that the beginning of humanity sprouted from this region. SWANA has been a key human crossroad for thousands of years, with civilizations growing along the coast and in the scattered river valleys.

The highest populated area in this region is in Cairo, right on top of the Nile Delta, providing rich soil and a solid water source. The second highest population is in Israel, along the Mediterranean Sea.

The highest elevation of the region are the Zagros Mountains, stretching all the way from Iran to Turkey. The land around the Nile Delta in northern Egypt make up the lowlands of SWANA. The Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf are the major bodies of water within this area.