About the Arctic's Tundra
The arctic tundra is among the most extreme environments on Earth, and is almost as dry as some of the Earth's deserts. Combined with extreme wind and cold temperatures for most of the year, life is difficult to support in this environment. The word tundra comes from the Finnish word meaning a treeless plain, tunturi.
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Geography
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Located in the northern hemisphere, the tundra lies in northern Russia, Greenland, northern Canada and Alaska. Because of the extreme northern location, the sun shines almost 24 hours a day in the summer months but remains dark for nearly the entire day during the winter.
Climate
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Winter temperatures average 30 F below zero. Summer temperature average between 37 F to 54 F. The tundra only receives about 6 to 10 inches of precipitation each year.
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Plants
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Because of the frozen soil layer called permafrost, there are no deep-rooted plants in the tundra. Plant life generally stays low to the ground and grows horizontally. Examples of plant life include arctic moss, shrubs, lichen, flowers, reindeer mosses and various types of grasses.
Growing Season
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The tundra growing season lasts between 50 to 60 days because of the extreme temperatures, lack of precipitation and lack of sunlight in winter months.
Animals
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Native animals like the arctic fox, arctic hare, caribou and polar bears adapted to survive the extreme tundra conditions. Some hibernate during winter months. During the warmer summer months, birds migrate from southern locations to the arctic tundra.
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