Illinois has been partially covered at times by glaciers. However, southern Illinois was covered only partially by the Illinois Glacier and not at all by the Wisconsin Glacier. Thus, the geography of southern Illinois is considerably more hilly and rocky than central or northern Illinois. Areas of southern Illinois are much more similar to the Ozarks than to central or northern Illinois.
 Additionally, the rich farm land of northern and central Illinois is not found in southern Illinois. A significant exception being the American Bottom along the Mississippi River. Another exception is the alluvial soils of the Gulf Coastal Plain, a large region which has its northernmost extent in the two river valleys of far southern Illinois. The Mississippi Delta reaches north from the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and ends near Thebes in Alexander County.
 The region's other major river, the Ohio River, winds generally southwest, past Shawneetown (home to the state's first bank), Cave-in-Rock, Elizabethtown, and Golconda. Its waters join the Mississippi at Cairo. In ancient times, the Ohio is thought to have flowed a more northerly course through Pope and Pulaski counties. It carved a broad valley there, fit for a major river. But today the underfit Bay Creek and Cache River occupy those valleys.
 The hills of Little Egypt can be divided into two areas. The western area, more closely related to the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas, is mostly in southern Jackson, Union, northern Alexander and Johnson counties. The eastern area, more closely related to the Wabash Valley Fault System, is mostly in northern Pope, southern Saline, Gallatin, eastern Johnson and southern Williamson counties.
 Much of these hills are covered by the Shawnee National Forest, which includes seven wilderness areas: Garden of the Gods, Bay Creek, Clear Springs, Bald Knob, Burden Falls, Lusk Creek, and Panthers Den.
 Of southern Illinois' rivers, only the Mississippi and the Ohio are navigable for modern commerce. The Big Muddy River, Marys River, Saline River and Cache River run their courses in deep southern Illinois. The Kaskaskia River and Wabash River are nearby.
 Depending on your definition of Little Egypt's boundaries, there are three interstates in the region. Interstate 57 is the main north-south highway through southern Illinois. It runs through the center of the area. South of Marion is the western terminus of Interstate 24. It runs southeast, crossing into Paducah, Kentucky near Metropolis.
 South of its junction with Interstate 24, Interstate 57 bends to the southwest and crosses into Missouri near Illinois' southernmost point by Cairo.
 Interstate 64 runs east-west from St. Louis to southern Indiana. It is coextensive with Interstate 57 for a short stretch at Mt. Vernon.
 Illinois Route 13 is a four-lane divided highway through the most populated part of the region outside of the St. Louis area from Murphysboro to Harrisburg. U.S. Highway 51 roughly follows the Illinois Central Railroad line north-south through the middle of the entire state. Illinois Route 1 runs north-south along the eastern edge of Little Egypt; Illinois Route 3 parallels the Mississippi River along the western edge of the area.