Zandia occupies the northwestern portion of the great western continent. Its western and northern coasts are mountainous and heavily forested, while much of the interior transitions into broad, dry plains.

 

The coastal mountains intercept moisture arriving from the western sea. Their western slopes receive heavy rainfall and support thick forests, while the lands farther east lie within a rain shadow. This creates a progression from humid coastal highlands to savannas, dry grasslands, and semi-desert.

 

Zandia has several distinct climate zones. The western coast is warm, wet, and heavily vegetated. The northern forests are cooler and more seasonal. The central and eastern plains experience hotter summers, lower rainfall, and periodic drought.

 

The mountain wall protects Zandia’s western coast but also separates coastal settlements from the inland plains. For this reason, trade depends upon a limited number of mountain passes and river valleys through the region.

 

Zandia's position on the nortwestern edge of the continent gives it great access to the sea routes leading toward Owari and the western edge of Tundris.