An aerial photo captures the vibrant plant life that has sprouted recently in the Sudd swamps of southern Sudan along the White Nile River. These swamplands, especially lush during the rainy season, are some 320 kilometers (200 miles) wide by 400 kilometers (250 miles) long. The area is considered one of the most fertile on the African continent. But too much rain can cause roads to become impassible, making it difficult to transport supplies to residents. Routes between the north and south of the country have already been closed for political reasons.