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The extremely harsh living conditions in the tundra are extremely unfavorable for plants. The amount of solar heat here is two times less than in a temperate climate. The time during which plant development is possible is very short - 2-3 months. Winter lasts about 8 months, the average annual temperature in the tundra is below zero everywhere. Frosts are possible in all months of summer. However, climatic conditions in the tundra are heterogeneous. In the USSR, the western part of the tundra zone is most favorable for plants - on Kola Peninsula. Proximity Atlantic Ocean and the warm North Atlantic Current moderate the cold breath of the Arctic here. The average temperature in January is -6°, and precipitation falls up to 400 mm per year.

To the east, the climate becomes harsher: the temperature drops, the amount of precipitation decreases, and the summer becomes shorter. In many regions of the Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, the average January temperature is -40°. The annual precipitation in the north of Siberia is 200-300 mm, and at the mouth of the river. Lena is reduced to 100 mm. There is little snow in the tundra. In the west, the thickness of the snow cover is 50 cm, and in the east, in Yakutia, it is only 25 cm.

Very strong winds constantly blow in the tundra. In winter there is often a snowstorm and wind speeds reach 30-40 m per second. The blizzard lasts for 5-6 days. Winds blow snow from the hills into ravines and river valleys, and the bare ground freezes heavily. The frost-bound soil does not thaw completely during the short summer, and frozen soil - permafrost - remains at a certain depth from year to year (for more information on this, see article ""). In the far west of the tundra zone there is no permafrost. The further to the east, the wider the strip of permafrost soils. IN Eastern Siberia its southern border descends south of Irkutsk.

The soil in the tundra is always cold. Even in summer, at shallow depths, the temperature does not rise above +10°. Permafrost slows down soil formation. Water accumulates in the upper layers of the soil, supported by the permafrost layer, and this entails waterlogging of the surface and the accumulation of semi-decomposed plant remains - peat. But there are no thick deposits of peat in the tundra - the growth of plant mass here is too small (see article "").

Permafrost, low precipitation, low temperatures and strong winds create a peculiar water regime. Plant roots, despite the excess moisture in the soil, are not able to supply it to the above-ground parts of plants in the right quantity. Therefore, plants in the tundra (for more details, see page 92), as in the desert, suffer from a lack of moisture. Naturally, the vegetation of the tundra, developing in such extremely unfavorable conditions, acquired a unique appearance.

IN middle lane In the tundra zone, large areas are occupied by moss or lichen tundra. Their landscape is gray and monotonous. Their most characteristic feature is the absence of woody vegetation. Of the mosses, green mosses predominate. Peat mosses are less common; they usually do not form continuous carpets here. Lichens are represented by a huge number of species. Among them, the most common are bushy ones - cladonia, cetraria, alectoria. Along with mosses and lichens, small amounts of shrubs grow here: crowberry, arctic bearberry, etc. Their underground organs and buds are hidden in the moss cover and in winter they find good protection there from unfavorable conditions. A moss carpet, like a loose sponge, absorbs moisture and further contributes to waterlogging of the tundra.

The more southern regions of the tundra zone are characterized by shrub tundras. These are quite tall thickets of bushes. They consist of several tiers. In the first, upper tier- mainly dwarf birch. In the second tier, various willows are widespread: arctic, herbaceous, reticulated, as well as crowberry, heather shrubs - wild rosemary, phyllodoceum. The third tier (ground cover) is formed by various mosses and lichens, but they are much less developed than in moss and lichen tundras. In river valleys and along the edges of swamps, larger (up to a meter or more) willows grow: woolly, Lapland, etc.

In the northern regions of the tundra, conditions are more severe and in winter even mosses and lichens freeze there. The vegetation in these areas of the tundra does not form continuous carpets. There is a lot of completely bare soil here. Among the numerous patches of bare soil, miserable vegetation huddles in the depressions - oppressed mosses, lichens and some small shrubs. This type of tundra is called spotted tundra.

In some places of the tundra, rocky soils come to the surface. Individual plants or small groups of them grow in islands on them. Most often found here are dryad, or partridge grass, polar poppies with red, yellow, white flowers, phyllodoce, arctic bearberry, and cassiope. This is rocky tundra.

The absence of trees and tall shrubs in the tundra is explained by a combination of unfavorable conditions. The drying strong winds in spring time, when the above-ground parts of plants are strongly heated by the sun, and the roots cannot supply them with enough water from the cold soil. As a result, the above-ground parts of plants quickly lose water and die.

Insufficient snow cover also has a detrimental effect on plants. All parts of plants that rise above the snow cover in the tundra die off due to winter drying.

Individual trees, sometimes collected in small groups, groves, are found only in the extreme south of the tundra zone - in the forest-tundra. Forest-tundra is characterized by alternation of forest areas with tundra (mainly shrub tundra).

On the border of the forest grow various trees. From west to east, birch, Norway spruce, Siberian spruce, Siberian larch and Dahurian larch replace each other. The trees on the forest border have a depressed appearance, they are no higher than 6 m. Trees are also found in the tundra, but along river valleys. Here they find protection from the wind. In addition, in rivers flowing from south to north, more warm water, and this increases the temperature of the slopes surrounding the river. In addition, rivers drain the soil. The soil along the rivers warms up well, and usually there is no permafrost layer.

In the tundra zone there are many swamps, meadows and overgrown reservoirs. The swamps are covered with green mosses and various herbs: sedges, angustifolia cotton grass, watch. Among them grow various berries: cloudberries, mamura, or clearings, small-fruited cranberries, and blueberries.

In the more southern regions of the tundra zone, hummocky peatlands are found. The depressions between the hillocks are overgrown with sphagnum mosses, and the hillocks are overgrown with lichens and mosses (cuckoo flax, peat and sphagnum mosses). Dwarf birch, crowberry, andromeda, blueberry and other shrubs are also found here.

Many plants in the tundra cannot go through all phases of their development in a short summer. Often they do not have time to form mature seeds. There are almost no annual plants in the tundra, and their number sharply decreases to the north. Between 71-74° N. w. annuals make up no more than one percent of the entire flora of flowering plants, and north of 74° they are represented by only one species - koenigia.

Thus, almost all tundra plants are perennial.

Captured by frost during flowering or fruit set, they interrupt development.

They continue to bloom or form seeds in the spring.

Some perennials have lost the ability to bear mature seeds in the tundra and reproduce only vegetatively.

Thus, on the Spitsbergen Islands, crowberry, dwarf birch, and fescue grass do not produce seeds. Bulbous and tuberous plants are rare in the tundra. Their development is hampered by severe soil freezing.

The tundra is dominated by evergreen plants with leathery leaves. They have various adaptations that reduce evaporation and make it possible not to spend a lot of time in the spring on the formation of new leaves. Evergreen shrubs from the heather family are widespread in the tundra: wild rosemary, andromeda, phyllodoce, cassiope, and also crowberry.

The harsh living conditions of plants explain their insignificant increase in organic mass. Lichens grow only 1-3 mm per year. In the polar willow on the Kola Peninsula, the shoots lengthen by only 1-5 mm per year and produce 2-3 leaves.

Tundra plants have developed peculiar forms that help them the best way Use the sun's heat and protect yourself from the wind. The so-called trellis forms of shrubs and trees are especially characteristic. They are formed, for example, by birch, spruce, and various willows. The trunks and branches of these plants, except for individual twigs, are hidden under moss or lichen.

Many tundra plants take on a cushion-like shape. Numerous shoots extend from the root collar of such plants in different directions, which in turn branch repeatedly. The entire plant takes the shape of a hemisphere or pillow. A dense cushion is better warmed by the sun's rays, and the shoots are well protected from the drying effects of the wind. Dying lower leaves fall down, rot and enrich the soil under the pillow with humus. Pillows are formed, for example, by stemless gum and saxifrage.

Plants in the tundra generally “hug to the ground.” Thanks to this, they are less exposed to the drying effects of the wind and receive more heat, since the soil here warms up more than the air.

Many tundra plants have very large flowers. Thus, the inflorescences of the Arctic chamomile, whose height is 10-25 cm, reach 8 cm in diameter.

The flowers of many tundra plants are brightly colored (sweetwort, bluewort, myrtle, poppies) and are clearly visible from afar. This is very important for plants, since there are few pollinating insects in the tundra.

All plants of the tundra, located at high latitudes, are long-day plants. In summer they are constantly illuminated by the sun. Prolonged illumination compensates for the lack of heat in the tundra; This explains the faster development of tundra plants. Most tundra plants manage to bloom and produce seeds, despite the short summer.

The flora of the tundra zone is young in comparison with other zones. It formed in the mountainous regions of Northeast Asia and Far East during the Tertiary and Ice Ages. At this time, the territory of the modern tundra was covered with a glacier. Then, following the retreating glacier, this new flora moved along the coast of the Arctic Ocean and along the mountain ranges of the Altai, Sayan, Ural, and Caucasus to the west, to territories freed from ice.

It also penetrated into the mountainous regions of Europe (Carpathians, Alps). This explains the similarity between the tundra (Arctic) flora and the high-mountain (Alpine) flora. Through the Bering Strait, this flora spread eastward to North America.

The flora of the tundra zone is very poor. In the tundras of Eurasia and North America there are no more than 500 species of higher plants.

The tundra contains many diverse plant communities. Their distribution is closely related to soil, topography and other conditions. These communities change from north to south in line with climate change.

The flora of the tundra natural zone is not rich. First of all, this is due to harsh climatic conditions. Tundra landscapes can be swampy, peaty and rocky. There is no fertile soil ideal for plant development here. They grow in swampy areas different kind s moss. Among the mosses there are entire fields of lingonberries, cloudberries and blueberries. By autumn, many fruits ripen in these berry fields. Plants similar to moss grow on the peat and rocky soils of the tundra. One of these is moss. This plant covers vast areas of the tundra. There is so much reindeer moss that all year round Whole herds of wild deer feed on it.

Not only mosses and reindeer moss are found in the tundra. Here, in places well protected from strong winds, in the valleys of rivers or lakes, you can find large meadows where a variety of grasses reach a height of half a meter.

The tundra is also characterized by a complete absence of forests. The only trees found are polar willow and dwarf birch. These trees are more similar to shrubs. The dwarf birch is so small that its thin, curved trunk practically lies and hides in moss or reindeer moss. Only small branches with miniature leaves are raised upward. The polar willow is even smaller than the birch. During snowfalls, all its branches are covered with snow.

Animals of the tundra

The most numerous inhabitants of the tundra belong to the class of birds. Especially in summer, a large number of geese, ducks and. In lakes and rivers they look for food, mainly insects, plants and small fish. There are so many birds in the tundra that some of its reservoirs are either white with geese or black with ducks. The screams and cackles of birds can be heard everywhere.

In summer, the tundra is infested with midges and mosquitoes. They rush through the air like clouds, attack animals and people, and give them no rest either night or day. In order to get rid of annoying insects, people light fires or dress in special costumes.

During severe winters, most birds fly to the southern regions. It is not uncommon for numerous herds of reindeer to pass through here. With the help of their hooves, they dig moss out of the ground. Sometimes you can see arctic foxes, musk oxen, lemmings and stoats here. Occasionally a polar owl is seen in the tundra. Her white, and therefore the partridges and pieds that she hunts simply do not notice her against the background of the snow.

Most of the animals of the tundra are covered with thick plumage or fur. Their winter color, as a rule, turns white, which helps them hide from enemies or sneak closer to their prey.

Tundra is a natural zone that lies north of the forest zone. On the territory of Russia it stretches from the Kola Peninsula to Chukotka.

Climate

Tundra is divided into three types:

• The southern one is closest to the forest zone.
• Middle - north of south.
• The Arctic is the coldest, northern part of this natural zone. It borders on a zone of eternal snow.

Winter this climatic zone lasts 8-9 months. Summer is short - 3-4 months. The frozen ground hardly thaws in summer, which is why the tundra surface is called “permafrost.” Even in the middle of summer it can be frosty and snowy.

Summer temperatures do not exceed +10˚ C. The earth thaws only a few centimeters. In the southern part it can reach +11˚ C in summer. The ground there thaws deeper and therefore many swamps and lakes form.

In winter, the snow cover does not exceed 15-30 cm. It blows all the time very strong winds. Therefore, the snow does not lie, but is constantly moving. From any heights it is completely blown away.

There is little precipitation, but there is still more of it than water evaporates from the earth. That's why the soil is oversaturated with moisture.

The soil

In the tundra there is sandy, clayey, peaty, rocky soil. In the west of Russia there are clay-sandy plains with many rivers, swamps and lakes. In the east There are mountain ranges and rocks.

Tundra soils are completely infertile. In high places, where the snow is blown away by the wind, the soil has no vegetation at all. Only frozen clay or sand protrudes to the surface. Such areas are called “clay medallions.”

Vegetable world

When the wind drives snow across the plain with force, it cuts off the protruding tops of grasses and bushes, as if trimming them. That's why plants cannot grow tall. Only in the lowlands of the southern tundra are there trees and shrubs as tall as a person.

Mostly they grow here grasses, mosses and lichens. The further north you go, the fewer grasses and more mosses you find. In the middle zone there are creeping willow and. In the Arctic - creeping shrubs.

On clay soils Mosses and grasses grow on rocky and sandy areas. Peat soils are dominated by mosses, berries and creeping trees. All plants in the tundra there is not enough heat. Therefore, plant roots do not grow deep, but along the surface.

Animal world

Aviation and all-terrain vehicles are used for communication in the tundra. All-terrain vehicles severely damage fragile vegetation, which then takes decades to recover. The best transport for northern residents is reindeer teams.

Although the tundra is poorer than other natural zones, it capable of feeding polar animals and migratory birds. Therefore, we need to protect its nature.

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The natural tundra zone is located mainly beyond the Arctic Circle and is limited to the north by arctic (polar) deserts and to the south by forests. It is located in the subarctic zone between 68 and 55 degrees north latitude. In those small areas where cold air masses from the Arctic Ocean are blocked by mountains in the summer—these are the valleys of the Yana, Kolyma, and Yukon rivers—the taiga rises into the subarctic. One should separately distinguish between mountain tundra, which is characterized by a change in nature with the height of the mountains.

The word "tundra" comes from the Finnish tunturi, which means "treeless, bare upland." In Russia, the tundra occupies the coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent territories. Its area is about 1/8 of the entire area of ​​Russia. In Canada, the tundra natural zone accounts for a significant part northern territories, which are practically uninhabited. In the United States, tundra occupies most of the state of Alaska.

a brief description of

• The natural tundra zone occupies about 8-10% of the entire territory of Russia;
• In the tundra there is a very short summer with average temperature in the warmest month, July, from +4 degrees in the north to +11 degrees in the south;
• Winter in the tundra is long and very harsh, accompanied by strong winds and snowstorms;
• Cold winds blow throughout the year: in summer - from the Arctic Ocean, and in winter - from the cooled mainland of Eurasia;
• The tundra is characterized by permafrost, that is, the upper level of the ground frozen through, part of which thaws in the summer by only a few tens of centimeters.
• In the tundra zone there is very little precipitation - only 200-300 mm per year. However, soils in the tundra are everywhere waterlogged due to impermeable permafrost at a shallow depth of surface cover and weak evaporation due to low temperatures even in strong winds;
• The soils in the tundra are usually infertile (due to humus being blown away by the winds) and are very swampy due to freezing in the harsh winter and only partial warming in the winter. warm time of the year.

Tundra is a natural area of ​​Russia

As everyone knows from school lessons, nature and climate on the territory of Russia have a clearly defined zonation of processes and phenomena. This is due to the fact that the country's territory extends from north to south and is mainly dominated by flat terrain. Each natural zone is characterized by a certain ratio of heat and moisture. Natural areas are sometimes called landscape or geographic.

The tundra occupies the territory adjacent to the coast of the Arctic Ocean and is the most severe inhabited natural zone in Russia. To the north of the natural tundra zone there are only arctic deserts, and to the south the forest zone begins.

The following are represented on the plains of Russia: natural areas, starting from the north:

• Arctic deserts;
• Forest-steppe
• Steppes
• Semi-deserts
• Deserts
• Subtropics.

And in mountainous areas Russia has a clearly defined altitudinal zone.

Natural areas of Russia on the map

The tundra is characterized by harsh climatic conditions, relatively low rainfall and the fact that its territory is located primarily in Arctic Circle. Let's list the facts about the tundra:

• The natural tundra zone is located north of the taiga zone;
• Mountain tundras are found in the mountains of Scandinavia, the Urals, Siberia, Alaska and Northern Canada;
• Tundra zones stretch in a strip 300-500 km wide along the northern coasts of Eurasia and North America;
• The climate of the tundra is subarctic, it is quite harsh and is characterized by long winters with polar nights (when the sun practically does not appear above the horizon) and short summers. A particularly harsh climate is observed in the continental tundra regions;
• Winter in the tundra lasts 6-9 months a year, it is accompanied by strong winds and low air temperatures;
• Frosts in the tundra sometimes reach minus 50 degrees Celsius;
• The polar night in the tundra lasts 60-80 days;
• Snow lies in the tundra from October to June, its height in the European part is 50-70 centimeters, and in Eastern Siberia and Canada 20-40 cm. In winter, snowstorms are frequent in the tundra;
• Summer in the tundra is short, with a long polar day;
• August in the tundra is considered the warmest month of the year: positive average daily temperatures of up to +10-15 degrees are noted, but frosts are possible on any day of summer;
• Summer is characterized by high air humidity, frequent fogs and drizzling rains;
• Tundra vegetation includes 200-300 species of flowering plants and about 800 species of mosses and lichens.

The main occupations of the population in the tundra:

• Reindeer husbandry;
• Fishing;
• Hunting for fur and sea animals.

The population of the tundra is limited in the choice of activities due to the characteristics natural conditions and relative isolation from major cities, as well as the population of Na, isolated on small islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the following types of tundra with characteristic vegetation are distinguished:

• arctic tundra(marsh soils and moss-lichen plants dominate);
• Subarctic tundra or typical middle tundra(moss, lichen and shrub plants, berries);
• or southern tundra (shrub plants - dwarf birch, bushy alder, various types of willows, as well as berries and mushrooms).

arctic tundra

In the Arctic, on the northern edge of European and Asian Russia, as well as in the far north of North America, there is the Arctic tundra. It occupies a coastal area northern seas and is a flat marshy area. Summer there brings only a brief thaw, and plants are not found due to the too cold climate. Permafrost is covered with melt lakes of melted snow and ice. Perennials in such conditions they are able to grow only for a short period of time - at the end of July and August, grouping in low places and protected from the winds, and annual plants do not take root here, since due to the harsh natural conditions they have a very short growing season. The predominant species are mosses and lichens, and shrubs do not grow at all in the Arctic tundra.

More southern types of tundra up to the forest-tundra zone are called Subarctic. There is cold arctic air here summer period on a short time inferior to the warmer air of the temperate zone. The days there are long, and under the influence of the penetration of a warmer climate, tundra plants have time to develop. These are mainly dwarf plants that cling to the ground, which radiates a little heat. This is how they hide from the winds and from freezing, trying to spend the winter under the snow cover as if in a fur coat.

IN middle tundra There are mosses, lichens and small shrubs. Small rodents are found here - lemmings (pieds), which feed on arctic foxes and polar owls. Most animals in the tundra are covered in snowy white fur or plumage in winter, but turn brown or gray in summer. Large animals in the middle tundra include reindeer (wild and domestic), wolves, and tundra partridge. Due to the abundance of swamps, the tundra is home to a gigantic amount of all kinds of midges, which in the summer attracts wild geese, ducks, swans, waders and loons to breed their chicks in the tundra.

Farming in the subarctic tundra is impossible in any form due to the low temperature of the soil and its poverty of nutrients. The territory of the middle tundra is used by reindeer herders as summer reindeer pastures.

On the border of the tundra and forest zones there is forest-tundra. It is much warmer than the tundra: in some areas the average daily temperature exceeds +15 degrees for 20 days a year. During the year, up to 400 mm of precipitation falls in the forest-tundra, and this is significantly more evaporated moisture. Therefore, the soils of the forest-tundra, as well as the subarctic tundra, are heavily waterlogged and swampy.

In the forest-tundra there are rare trees growing in sparse groves or singly. The forests consist of low-growing curved birches, spruces and larches. Usually the trees are far apart from each other, since they root system located in the upper part of the soil, above permafrost. There are both tundra and forest plant species.

In the eastern part of the forest-tundra there are tundra forests, characterized by thickets of low-growing trees. Subarctic mountain regions are dominated by mountain tundra and barren rocky surfaces, on which only mosses, lichens, and small rock flowers grow. Resin moss grows much faster in the forest-tundra than in the subarctic tundra, so there is freedom for deer here. In addition to deer, the forest-tundra is home to moose, brown bears, arctic foxes, white hares, wood grouse and hazel grouse.

Agriculture in the tundra

In the forest-tundra it is possible vegetable growing in open ground , here you can grow potatoes, cabbage, turnips, radishes, lettuce, green onions. Techniques for creating high-yielding meadows in the forest-tundra territory have also been developed.

Did you know that...

In Iceland, which is entirely located in the natural tundra zone, potatoes were grown in the past and even barley was cultivated. It turned out to be a good harvest, because Icelanders are stubborn and hardworking people. But now open-air farming has been replaced by a more profitable activity - growing plants in greenhouses heated by the heat of hot springs. And today, various tropical crops, especially bananas, grow beautifully in the Icelandic tundra. Iceland even exports them to Europe.

There are also mountain tundras, which form a high-altitude zone in the mountains of the temperate and subarctic zones. They are located above the border of mountain forests and are characterized by the dominance of lichens, mosses and some cold-resistant grasses, shrubs and shrubs. There are three zones in the mountain tundra:

• Shrub belt- forms on rocky soils, like lowland tundra.
• Moss-lichen belt is located above the shrubby one, its characteristic vegetation is represented by subshrubs and some herbs.
• Upper belt mountain tundras are the poorest in vegetation. Here, among the stony soils and rocky formations, only lichens and mosses grow, as well as squat shrubs.

Mountain tundra (in purple)

Antarctic tundra

The Antarctic Peninsula and islands in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere have a natural zone similar to the tundra. It was called the Antarctic tundra.

Tundra in Canada and the USA

In the northern part of Canada and the US state of Alaska, very large areas are located in the natural tundra zone. It is located in the Arctic in the northern regions of the Western Cordillera. There are 12 types of tundra in Canada and the USA:

• Tundra of the Alaska Range and St. Elias Mountains (USA and Canada)
• Coastal tundra of Baffin Island
• Tundra of the Brooks Range and British Mountains
• Davis Strait upland tundra
• Tundra of the Torngat Mountains
• Alpine tundra of the interior
• Alpine tundra Ogilvy and Mackenzie
• Arctic tundra
• Subpolar tundra
• polar tundra
• Tundra and ice fields of the mountains of the Pacific coast
• arctic tundra

Flora and fauna of the tundra

Since the entire tundra is characterized by permafrost and strong winds, plants and animals have to adapt to life in difficult cold conditions, clinging to the ground or rocks.

Plants in the tundra have characteristic shapes and properties that reflect their adaptation to harsh continental climate. The tundra contains many mosses and lichens. Due to the short and cold summers and long winters, most of the plants in the tundra are perennials and evergreens. Lingonberries and cranberries are examples of such perennials. shrub plants. They begin their growth as soon as the snow melts (often only in early July).

But the bushy lichen moss (“reindeer moss”) grows very slowly, only 3-5 mm per year. It becomes clear why reindeer herders constantly wander from one pasture to another. They are forced to do this not at all because of a good life, but because the restoration of reindeer pastures is very slow, it takes 15-20 years. Among the plants in the tundra there are also many blueberries, cloudberries, princelings and blueberries, and there are also thickets of bushy willow. And in the wetlands, sedges and grasses predominate, some of which have evergreen leaves covered with a bluish, waxy coating that gives dull colors.

A distinctive feature of the tundra is large numbers, but small species composition of animals. This is also due to the fact that the tundra is located literally at the very edge of the earth, where very few people live. Only a few species have adapted to the harsh conditions of the tundra, such as lemmings, arctic fox, reindeer, ptarmigan, snowy owl, mountain hare, wolf, and musk ox.

In summer, a mass of migratory birds appear in the tundra, attracted by the variety of insects that are found in abundance in swampy areas and are especially active in summer. They hatch and feed their chicks here, so that they can soon fly to warmer climes.

Numerous rivers and lakes of the tundra are rich in various fish. Here you can find omul, vendace, broad white salmon and nelma. But cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians are practically not found in the tundra due to low temperatures, limiting their life activity.

Tundra partridge is one of the most famous birds of the tundra

Look interesting video about the tundra natural zone:

Tundra is a treeless natural area in northern Eurasia and North America. It is characterized by a harsh climate and the occurrence of permafrost at shallow depths. Due to low winter temperatures and frozen soils trees can't grow here, even conifers, withstanding extreme Siberian frosts. What animals live in the tundra under such conditions?

Features of the tundra climate

The tundra zone corresponds to the subarctic climate zone. Here, average January temperatures drop to -40º, and minimum temperatures are even lower. But this is not the case everywhere. For example, on the coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula, where the warm Norwegian Current passes, January temperatures rarely drop below -20º. But winter throughout the tundra lasts a very long time.

Summer here is comparable to our autumn. In the hottest month, the temperature rarely exceeds +10º. Even in July there can be sub-zero temperatures and snow. And such a summer lasts for at most a month and a half.

The main feature of the tundra climate is excessive moisture. But not because there is a lot of precipitation, but because of low temperatures and, as a result, insignificant evaporation. As a result, there are many swamps and lakes. There are also strong winds here, especially on the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

In winter, above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not go below the horizon for several days in a row. In summer it is the turn of the polar day. And to the south the sun shines for so long that the evening dawn gives way to the morning and there is no real darkness. This phenomenon is called "white nights".

Fauna and flora of the tundra

The vegetation of the tundra is very unique. In the south of the zone, where it is warmer, there are still dwarf trees: polar willow, dwarf birch. It is difficult to mistake them for trees, because the thickness of their trunks does not even reach the diameter of a pencil, and they rise only 20-30 cm in height.

The main plants of the tundra are mosses and lichens. They determine the appearance of the tundra landscape. There is enough moisture for them here, and they are unpretentious to heat. True, they grow very slowly.

The most famous tundra plant is moss, or reindeer moss, which is actually not moss, but lichen. This is the source of food for reindeer, which is why it got its popular name.

There are a lot of shrubs in the tundra that overwinter under the snow without shedding their small, dense, leathery leaves. This allows them to begin the growing season immediately after thawing from under the snow. First of all, these are lingonberries, cranberries, blueberries and cloudberries.

From herbaceous plants You can name sedge, cotton grass and polar poppy. During the short Arctic summer, they manage to go through the full vegetative cycle.

The vegetation here often forms creeping and cushion-shaped forms. This allows you to better use ground heat and preserve it, protect yourself from strong winds that break the stems.

The fauna of the tundra is not rich in species, but quite large in quantity. What animals live permanently in the tundra? The indigenous inhabitants of the tundra include reindeer, lemmings, arctic foxes, wolves, and birds - the polar owl and the ptarmigan. Very rare animals are musk oxen.

Fauna of the Russian tundra

The most numerous animals of the tundra are lemmings. These rodents feed on seeds, fruits and roots of tundra plants. They can reproduce very quickly, because they mature within 2-3 months after birth. They can give birth to up to 5-6 litters of up to a dozen cubs each year. It is clear that there is not enough food for everyone. And lemmings undertake large migrations, moving en masse in search of food.

Although lemmings are not used by humans, animal world the tundra cannot do without these animals. After all, they serve as the main food for valuable commercial animals - arctic fox, fox.

The white arctic fox and the wolf are also typical representatives of tundra animals. But while the arctic fox mainly feeds on lemmings, hunts birds and destroys bird nests, the wolf prefers larger prey. And this is why he poses a danger to reindeer. Wolves hunt in large packs, driving herds of deer to remove weakened animals or young calves from the herd.

Reindeer is the main animal of the tundra

Reindeer graze on vast expanses of tundra. They feed not only on reindeer moss, but also on other types of plants. In search of food, they have to wander all the time, because the eaten vegetation takes a very long time to recover. In addition, in winter they migrate to more southern regions of the tundra and forest-tundra, since here the snow is looser and it is easier to dig out plants with their hoofs. Yes and leaves dwarf trees are also eaten.

In summer, deer move closer to the ocean coast, the wind from which saves them from midges - blood-sucking insects.

Reindeer have long been domesticated by humans. He is simply an irreplaceable animal in the tundra. Their meat and skins are used; deer transport people and goods. It’s not for nothing that the song says: “But deer are better...”

Reindeer wool is very warm, because the hairs in it are hollow and filled with air. Therefore, deer can easily tolerate very very coldy. And for the inhabitants of the tundra, clothing made from reindeer skins is also necessary.

IN North America This area is home to caribou.

Tundra birds

The fauna of the tundra is also represented by birds. The most famous eider is a large sea duck. It is famous for its exceptionally warm down, which lines the nest and covers the eggs. This gray fluff is very valuable, so it is collected. From one nest from which the chicks have already left, you can get 15-20 grams of pure fluff.

The white partridge is also a permanent resident of the tundra. The name suggests that in winter its plumage turns white, which allows the bird to be invisible against the background of snow. It feeds on plant foods, and the chicks are also insectivorous.

The polar owl mainly hunts lemmings. And in summer time it also poses a danger to birds, since chicks are a good addition to its diet.

Summer paradise for waterfowl

In summer, the endless expanses of the tundra are literally saturated with water. These include melted snow waters, numerous lakes, swamps, and rivers. Therefore, the fauna of the tundra is replenished with a huge number of waterfowl. They find algae and insect larvae in the water, and they do not refuse the insects themselves.

Geese, ducks, loons, waders, swans - that's far from full list birds feeding and raising their chicks in the far north. And in the fall they take their chicks south, to warmer climes.

Conservation of tundra animals

The fauna and flora of the tundra are very fragile, because it takes decades, not years, to restore it in harsh conditions. Therefore he needs protection.

The Red Book of Russia aims to protect flora and fauna. Animals of the tundra that are included in it:

• Putorana bighorn sheep;
• Chukchi bighorn sheep;
• polar bear;
• white goose;
• white-billed loon;
• white goose;
• lesser goose;
• barnacle;
• red-breasted goose;
• Pacific black goose;
• small swan;
• American swan;
• pink gull;
• Siberian crane, or white crane.

To protect the wildlife of the tundra, nature reserves have been created: Kandalaksha, Lapland, Taimyr, etc.