The southern atlantic current runs clockwise (mirroring the counter-clockwise motion of its northern counterpart) so the southern mountains are perfectly placed to both experience antarctic conditions (frozen wastes, anyone?) and protect the island from those temperatures. Warm winds would sweep in from Africa helping to keep the eastern bay temperate year-round. The large inland lake is one of the biggest in the world, although not quite as big as Baikal, Victoria, or Superior it most probably ranks in or near the top five. The arrid northern section could have potentially been slower to settle, whereas the fertile southern half of the continent, especially along the river stretching from the lake to the sea (thanks, Josh!) would have been the first settled and the city of Khazan is more