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Separated from Gondwana since the Mesozoic, Madagascar has the characteristics of a true continent, with complicated geology and varied morphology at low and high elevations. The extreme diversity of the largely endemic fauna and flora has developed in part because of a great variety in the natural environment. Diversity in the geomorphology and climate (ranging from per-humid to semi-arid) is examined successively. The Mascareignes, Comoro and Seychelles archipelagos and various smaller islands each form a biogeographical entity distinct from Madagascar. Landscapes and fauna have changed dramatically in the Malagasy area following the recent arrival of humans.