To the south of the zone of the arctic deserts there is a beautiful harsh zone without a forest, long summer and warmth – the tundra. The nature of this climate is very beautiful and most often snow-white. Winter colds can reach -50⁰С. Winter in the tundra lasts about 8 months; there is also a polar night. The nature of the tundra is diverse, each plant and animal has adapted to the cold climate and frost.
Interesting facts about the nature of the tundra
- During the short summer, the tundra surface warms up on average by half a meter in depth.
- There are many swamps and lakes in the tundra, as water from the surface slowly evaporates due to constant low temperatures.
- The flora of the tundra has a wide variety of moss. A lot of lichen will melt here; it is a favorite food for reindeer in cold winters.
- Due to severe frosts, there are few trees in this climate, most often tundra plants are undersized, since the cold wind is less felt near the ground.
- In summer, many swans, cranes and geese fly to the tundra. They try to quickly acquire offspring in order to have time to raise chicks before winter arrives.
- The search for minerals, oil and gas is being carried out in the tundra. Technique and transport for work disturb the soil, which leads to the death of plants that are important for the life of animals.
The main types of tundra
The tundra is usually divided into three zones:
- Arctic tundra.
- Middle tundra.
- Southern tundra.
Arctic tundra
The arctic tundra is characterized by very harsh winters and cold winds. Summers are cool and cold. Despite this, in the arctic climate of the tundra live:
- seals;
- walruses;
- seals;
- White bears;
- musk ox;
- reindeer;
- wolves;
- foxes;
- hares.
Most of this region is located in the Arctic Circle. A characteristic feature of this region is that it does not grow tall trees. In summer, the snows partially melt and form small swamps.
Middle tundra
Medium or typical tundra richly covered with mosses. A lot of sedge grows in this climate; reindeer like to feed on it in winter. Since the weather in the middle tundra is milder than in the arctic tundra, dwarf birches and willows appear in it. The middle tundra is also home to mosses, lichens and small shrubs. Many rodents live here, owls and arctic foxes feed on them. Because of the bogs in the typical tundra, there are a lot of midges and mosquitoes. For people, this territory is used for breeding. Too cold summers and winters do not allow any farming here.
Southern tundra
The southern tundra is often called “forest”, because it is located on the border with the forest zone. This area is much warmer than other areas. In the hottest month of summer, the weather reaches + 12⁰С for several weeks. In the southern tundra, individual trees or forests of low-growing spruces or birches grow. The advantage of the forest tundra for humans is that it is already possible to grow vegetables in it, such as potatoes, cabbage, radishes and green onions. Yagel and other favorite reindeer plants grow here much faster than in other areas of the tundra, therefore, reindeer prefer the southern territories.
Other related articles:
Tundra animals from the Red Book
