Could anyone explain what this map is actually showing? I'm having trouble interpreting the color scheme.

I found this map online, but I'm not sure how to interpret the colors.

At first I thought it was an elevation map, but low-elevation areas like much of the Amazon Basin aren't consistently shown in green.

Is this simply an artistic relief map, or do the colors represent something beyond elevation?

Some people describe maps like this as showing "human habitability". Is that a correct interpretation, or is this simply a relief map?

Posted Jul 5, 2026, 9:08 PM UTC