Arctic Tundra

The word Tundra originated from the Kildin Sami word, tūndar meaning “uplands”. Also known as the treeless mountain tract. The tundra is a biome that frequently suffers severe low temperatures. These low temperatures hinder the plant life causing short growing seasons and often times it doesn't allow trees to grow.

The names Antarctic Tundra, Arctic Tundra, and Alpine Tundra are the 3 main types of tundra. The Arctic Tundra is found north of the “snowforest” or taiga belt in the Northern Hemisphere and has only 2 seasons in the polar regions. A winter season and a summer season. Permafrost refers to the frozen soil of the tundra in the winter season.

This permafrost

(map of the arctic tundra) area reaches down to Canada and Russia (the taiga

There are also no trees found in it because of the climate. Unlike the Arctic Tundra the Alpine Tundra does not have permafrost because the soil drains the

(map of the alpine tundra) water better. This Tundra climate is classified by the Köppen climate classification (the most used climate classification system throughout the world). It is classified into the group ET which means that it experiences at least one month where the average temperature is above 0 degrees celsius but does not exceed 10 degrees celsius. This means that there will almost always be snow and ice on the ground. This area is generally thought of as hostile to woody vegetation. relies on is its stealth which is improved by having a bright white pelt that blends in with the environment. The wolf also has small ears that help enhance its hearing and ability to stalk prey. All of this helps to improve the wolfs stealth. Some commonly found plants in the Alpine Tundra are the Bearberry, Caribou Moss, and Tufted

(Arctostaphylos uva-ursi or

As a result this extremely rocky land is capable of growing only plants such as

(calliergon giganteum or arctic moss) lichen, moss, and heath that only need the first few inches of soggy soil to grow. These plants have to be able to endure little sunlight and 100 mph winds. The tundra receives on average just 30 cm rain and the soil lacks the needed nutrients to grow bigger plants. One such plant is the Diamond-leaf

(salix pulcha or diamond-leaf willow)

Willow. Normally growing to 30 feet in height these trees only grow 5 to 6 inches tall. The spread out in a mat across the tundra floor and produce flowers. Trees need a lot more room than just a few inches of wet soil to grow and the frozen ground is to hard for their roots to penetrate. This is why the few trees that are able to grow never get as big as they could be. Even through this many animals are able to find

(ursus maritimus or polar bear) this area hospitable. The Polar Bear, Caribou, Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, Snowy Owl, and the Musk Ox. The Polar Bear although