Final answer:
The Great Rift Valley is the physical feature that divides Africa into two distinct regions, creating a geographic boundary between East Africa and the rest of Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical feature that divides Africa into two distinct regions is the Great Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley is a series of rifts or deep cracks in the Earth's surface that stretch from the Middle East to Mozambique in southern Africa. It creates a geographic boundary between East Africa and the rest of Africa.
The Great Rift Valley is made up of two main rifts: the Western Rift and the Eastern Rift.
The Western Rift is located along the border with the Congo and is characterized by deep water lakes such as Lake Tanganyika, Lake Edward, and Lake Albert. On the western edge of the Western Rift are the highlands with mountain ranges like the Rwenzori Mountains and the Virunga Mountains.
The Eastern Rift runs from Ethiopia down to Mozambique and is known for its highlands, the Great Rift Valley itself, and the presence of large lakes like Lake Turkana and Lake Malawi.