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 includes a significant part of the 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;
- The tundra has a very short summer with an 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 widely waterlogged due to impermeable permafrost at shallow surface depths and poor evaporation due to low temperatures even with 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 up in the warm season.
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 zonality 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. North natural area The tundra contains 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 the mountainous regions of Russia, altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed.
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 their choice of activities due to the peculiarities of natural conditions and relative isolation from large cities, just like the population of the tundra, 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, different kind 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 the coastal territory of the 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. Perennial plants in such conditions 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 period of time. 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. Here, the cold Arctic air briefly gives way to warmer temperate air in the summer. The days there are long, and under the influence of the penetration of a warmer climate, tundra plants have time to develop. These are mostly 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. Typically, trees are far apart from each other, since their root system is 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, and green onions. Techniques have also been developed for creating high-yielding meadows in the forest-tundra territory.
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. There are many mosses and lichens found in the tundra. 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.
| 1 | Blueberry |
| 2 | Cowberry |
| 3 | Black crowberry |
| 4 | Cloudberry |
| 5 | Loidia late |
| 6 | Bow of speed |
| 7 | Prince |
| 8 | Cotton grass vaginalis |
| 9 | Sedge swordfolia |
| 10 | Dwarf birch |
| 11 | Willow cuneifolia |
A distinctive feature of the tundra is its large population, 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.
| 1 | White-billed loon | 29 | Arctic fox |
| 2 | little swan | 30 | White Hare |
| 3 | Bean goose | 31 | Varakusha |
| 4 | White-fronted goose | 32 | Lapland plantain |
| 5 | Canada goose | 33 | Bunochka |
| 6 | Brent goose | 34 | Red-breasted Pipit |
| 7 | Red-breasted Goose | 35 | Horned lark |
| 8 | Pink seagull | 36 | Long-tailed ground squirrel |
| 9 | Long-tailed skua | 37 | Black-capped marmot |
| 10 | Fork-tailed gull | 38 | Siberian lemming |
| 11 | American swan | 39 | Hoofed lemming |
| 12 | White goose | 40 | Norwegian Lemming |
| 13 | Blue goose | 41 | Middendorff's vole |
| 14 | Lesser White Goose | 42 | Siberian crane |
| 15 | Sailor | 43 | |
| 16 | Spectacled eider | 44 | Ptarmigan |
| 17 | Eider comb | 45 | Kulik Turukhtan |
| 18 | Tufted duck, male and female | 46 | Sandpiper Sandpiper |
| 19 | Merlin | 47 | Golden Plover |
| 20 | Peregrine Falcon | 48 | Dunlin Sandpiper |
| 21 | Rough-footed Buzzard | 49 | Flat-nosed phalarope |
| 22 | Weasel | 50 | Godwit |
| 23 | Ermine | 51 | Godwit |
| 24 | Shrew | 52 | bighorn sheep |
| 25 | Wolf | 53 | Salamander |
| 26 | White Owl | 54 | Malma |
| 27 | Muskox | 55 | Arctic char |
| 28 | Reindeer | 56 | Dallia |
Tundra partridge is one of the most famous birds of the tundra
Watch an interesting video about the tundra natural area:
Tundra is a treeless flat hill, translated from Finnish.
Tundra is an area characterized by permafrost, short summers and long winters.
Geographical position
The tundra is located in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth, being in the northern part of the Eurasian continent, North America, and the islands that are part of the subpolar geographical zone.
They occupy almost 5% of all land on the planet. The borders are the Arctic - from the south, the Arctic deserts - in the north.
Characteristics of the tundra
The tundra is represented by three subspecies, which differ in vegetation:
- Forest-tundra or southern, where willows, berries, mushrooms, shrubs, represented by dwarf birch and bushy alder, grow;
- Arctic, where swamps and wetlands, mosses and lichens predominate;
- Subarctic or typical average, which is characterized by mosses, shrubs, lichens, and berries.
tundra in summer photo
The Arctic tundra is located between the North Pole and the taiga. Winter here is very harsh; it differs in that the water always freezes, and the entire territory resembles a desert. In summer, the soil can only heat up from 40 to 60 centimeters deep. Summer is dull and gray, greenery does not appear everywhere, and from a distance it resembles spots.
In the southern tundra, summers are somewhat longer, and this contributes to deeper warming of the earth. Therefore, shrubs, mosses and lichens can grow on them. Summer is also characterized by the opening of rivers and lakes, which are surrounded by lush and colorful vegetation.
dwarf birch trees in the tundra photo
Somewhere in the middle of summer, a polar day may occur (the sun does not set below the horizon), lasting several months. During this period, herbaceous plants bloom here, shrubs and small trees are covered with leaves. Their height is no more than 50 centimeters.
Tundra climate
The climate of the tundra is subarctic, which is characterized by the absence of summer as a season. When it arrives, it can last only a few weeks and is cool, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, with frosts occurring at night.
In summer there is slightly more precipitation than in winter. The average annual precipitation in the tundra is 200 - 400mm. Moisture significantly exceeds evaporation, which contributes to the formation of wetlands. Winter lasts a very long time and is characterized by cold weather. The temperature drops to -50 degrees. Snow cover in the tundra lies from October to June.
Soils
The area is represented by several types:
- Rocky;
- Peaty;
- Swampy.
The soils are waterlogged, therefore they are represented by arctic tundra (north) and gelatin tundra (center and south). The gelation process is very active, so the soils have a bluish and green tint.
There is very little humus in the soils, since few shrubs and plants grow on the surface, the processes of humification and mineralization occur very slowly. Therefore, the peat layer is very thin.
Among other features of tundra soils, it is worth noting the impossibility of finding soil horizons, since they are constantly moving, which is associated with the following processes:
- Swelling;
- Outpourings.
The permafrost becomes larger at the northern borders. The soils are acidic and lack minerals and nutrients.
Flora and fauna of the tundra
The plant world here is sparse. These are mainly mosses and lichens, shrubs. Dwarf trees (birch, alder, willow) are found on the southern border of the tundra. But flowers that have survived the harsh winter bloom in summer (buttercups, polar poppies, wild rosemary, forget-me-nots). It’s beautiful in August and September - the berries ripen, and the greenery changes its color to red, then to yellow.
tundra plants photo
The tundra is a cold, treeless plain located south of the arctic desert zone. Natural conditions in the tundra are less harsh than in the Arctic deserts. Therefore, the flora and fauna here are richer.
Using the map in the textbook, color in the tundra zone on the contour map (The world around us, grade 4, pp. 36-37). To select a color, you can use, as in the last lesson, the “key” given below.
2. Do you know the living world of the tundra? Cut out the pictures from the Appendix and arrange them correctly. Test yourself with the drawing in the textbook.
Tundra
Give your desk neighbor a mini-exam. Arrange the pictures so that there are 2-3 mistakes. Let the neighbor find them and correct them (put the pictures correctly).
Ask your desk neighbor to arrange the same exam for you. When you are confident in your knowledge, paste the pictures into your notebook.
The Question Question ant dreams of eating tundra berries, but does not know what they look like. Look at the pictures. Compare by appearance cloudberries, blueberries and lingonberries. Explain to Ant how these plants can be recognized in nature.
You can find additional information about blueberries and lingonberries in the atlas-identifier “From Earth to Sky” (p. 90-91).
Draw a diagram of the food chain characteristic of the tundra. Compare it with the diagram proposed by your desk neighbor. Using these diagrams, tell about the ecological connections in the tundra zone.
Dwarf birch twigs - Lemming - White Owl
Moss - Reindeer - Wolf
Cloudberry - Ptarmigan - Gyrfalcon
Arctic willow buds - Lemming - Arctic fox - Wolf
Think what environmental problems in the tundra zone are expressed by these signs. Formulate and write down.
From all-terrain vehicles and tractors the soil surface is disturbed, plants die |
|
During oil production, the surrounding area is often heavily polluted. |
|
| In many reindeer pastures, moss disappears because reindeer are not always moved from one pasture to another in a timely manner. The most valuable pastures often perish. | |
| Illegal hunting - poaching - causes great harm to the wildlife of the tundra. |
Suggest conservation measures for class discussion that would help solve these problems.
Continue filling out the poster “Red Book of Russia”, which was drawn by Seryozha and Nadya’s dad. Find rare tundra animals on the poster and write their names.
White crane (Siberian crane), tundra swan, red-breasted goose, gyrfalcon
7. Here you can complete the drawing according to the instructions in the textbook (p. 93).
Draw how you imagine the tundra
According to the instructions in the textbook (p. 93), prepare a report about one of the plants or animals of the tundra.
Message subject: Polar mouse (Lemming) 
Important message information: Perhaps the most numerous inhabitants of the tundra are lemmings, or polar mice. In the summer they live in shallow burrows (and would be happy to hide more securely, but the permafrost does not allow them) or under lichen-covered rocks. In winter, lemmings make nests of grass and moss under a layer of snow, but do not even think about hibernating, but busily scurry back and forth through a real labyrinth of tunnels carefully laid in the snow, only occasionally crawling out to feast on buds, twigs and bark dwarf tundra plants. This is where white owls wait for them, sitting in ambush on top of the snowdrifts. Arctic foxes also do not disdain polar mice.
The most amazing thing is that during the long and cold polar night, lemmings successfully reproduce in their nests in the snow. Females can raise three to five broods. At this time, the main enemies of lemmings are not owls and arctic foxes, but nimble stoats, which easily penetrate the intricate network of passages dug by rodents and even impudently use their nests for resting and breeding.
Source(s) of information: Encyclopedia. Interesting about the unknown
1. Using the map in the textbook, color in the tundra zone on the contour map (p. 36-37).
Map in the textbook
To select a color, you can use, as in the last lesson, the “key” given below.
You need to paint over the areas marked in purple.
2. Do you know the living world of the tundra? Cut out the pictures from the Appendix and arrange them correctly. Test yourself with the drawing in the textbook.
Give your desk neighbor a mini-exam. Arrange the pictures so that there are 2-3 mistakes. Let the neighbor find them and correct them (put the pictures correctly).
Ask your desk neighbor to arrange the same exam for you. When you are confident in your knowledge, paste the pictures into your notebook.
3. The questioning ant dreams of eating tundra berries, but does not know what they look like. Look at the pictures. Compare the appearance of cloudberries, blueberries and lingonberries. Explain to Ant how these plants can be recognized in nature.
You can find additional information about blueberries and lingonberries in the atlas-identifier “From Earth to Sky” (p. 90-91).
Cloudberry- a herbaceous plant up to 30 cm high. Usually two to three rounded leaves and one berry grow on thin stems. The berry is round, yellow-red (unripe) or orange (ripe) in color, and resembles a raspberry in appearance.
Blueberry grows on low bushes. The leaves on the bush are oblong and very dense. Blueberries are round or elongated. The skin of the berries is blue with a bluish coating, and the pulp inside is purple.
Cowberry It also grows on low bushes, but its leaves are shiny, leathery and with tips curved down. Lingonberries are shiny, round and small. They sit in clusters on branches like currants.
4. Draw a diagram of the food chain characteristic of the tundra. Compare it with the diagram proposed by your desk neighbor. Using these diagrams, tell about the ecological connections in the tundra zone.
5. Think about what environmental problems in the tundra zone are expressed by these signs. Formulate and write down.
Tractors and all-terrain vehicles destroy soil and destroy plants. Then nature cannot recover for a very long time.
Mining: oil and gas. Because of this, the environment is subject to severe pollution.
Domestic reindeer are bred in the tundra, but they do not always manage to transfer the reindeer from one pasture to another in time. As a result, the vegetation cover of the pasture does not have time to recover and the pasture dies.
Poaching is very common in the tundra. This leads to the extinction of rare species of animals and plants.
Suggest conservation measures for class discussion that would help solve these problems.
6. Continue filling out the poster “The Red Book of Russia”, which was drawn by Seryozha and Nadya’s dad. Find rare tundra animals on the poster and write their names.
White crane (Siberian crane), tundra swan, red-breasted goose, gyrfalcon
7. Here you can complete the drawing according to the instructions in the textbook (p. 93).
Draw how you imagine the tundra. You can try to make a model of a tundra area from plasticine and other materials.
8. According to the instructions of the textbook (p. 93), prepare a report about one of the plants or animals of the tundra.
Using additional literature and the Internet, prepare a report about one of the plants or animals of the tundra. Write to workbook outline your message and the most important information about the plant or animal.
Message subject:
Message plan:
- Distribution of merlins
- Appearance of gyrfalcons
- Gyrfalcon nutrition
- Falcon hunting
- Threats to the species and animal protection
Important message information:
The gyrfalcon is a bird of prey of the falcon family.
The gyrfalcon is a bird from the order Falconiformes. The gyrfalcon lives in the tundra and arctic zones of Russia, at the northernmost tip of Europe and North America. There is also a mountain Asian species of gyrfalcon that lives in the Tien Shan mountains.
Gyrfalcons are the largest representatives of falcons. Their length reaches 60 cm, and their wingspan is 135 cm. In Siberian gyrfalcons, the color of the back varies - from almost white to brownish-gray; the ventral side of gyrfalcons is always white with a dark pattern.
Gyrfalcons are typical predators. They feed on small birds or small animals. Birds attack prey from above. They fold their wings and grab prey with their tenacious paws. In general, these birds are excellent flyers. Just a few flaps of its wings and the bird rushes forward at great speed or falls down like a stone.
In the Middle Ages, hunting with falcons, including gyrfalcons, was widespread. They were used as birds of prey throughout Europe and Russia. Nowadays, falconry is also a favorite hobby of many people around the world.
With the cost of one bird reaching up to $30,000, poachers are catching them and selling them. In addition, gyrfalcons often die in traps set by poachers for arctic foxes, valuable fur-bearing animals. Security authorities are actively fighting poachers and gyrfalcons; fortunately, extinction is not yet in danger.
Source(s) of information: Internet
Imagine barren lands that are unsuitable for tree growth, too cold for many animals and too isolated for most people. Although such a place may seem incredible, there is a natural area on our planet that fully matches this description, known as the tundra. The uniqueness of this region lies in the harsh climate, as well as the scarcity of flora and fauna.
The tundra is one of the youngest natural areas in the world. According to some estimates, its formation occurred about 10,000 years ago. It is located in the northern parts of Asia, Europe and North America, as well as in high mountains mid-latitudes and distant regions of Oceania and South America. Some areas of Greenland and Alaska are good examples of tundra. However, this natural area also covers large areas of the northern regions of Canada and Russia.
Classification
Depending on the geographical location, the tundra is divided into three main types: Arctic, Alpine and Antarctic. The Arctic tundra covers large areas of the northern regions of Eurasia and North America, where permafrost and poor soils prevent the growth of most plant species. The Antarctic tundra is mostly covered with ice and is located at the South Pole, including the islands of South Georgia and Kerguelen. Alpine tundras are found high in the mountains around the world, where cold temperatures mean that only low-growing vegetation is found.
The tundra of the northern hemisphere can be divided into three separate zones, which differ in climate, as well as in the species composition of flora and fauna:
- Arctic tundra;
- Middle tundra;
- Southern tundra.
Natural conditions of the tundra
The natural conditions of the tundra are among the most difficult on earth. Barren soils, extreme cold, low biodiversity and isolation make the region virtually uninhabitable for human life. Unlike the natural steppe zone, where it is easier to grow grains and vegetable crops, vegetation in the tundra is rarely edible for humans. Therefore, the peoples of the tundra (such as the Eskimos) survive on hunting, as well as marine resources such as seals, walruses, whales and salmon. For a detailed examination of the natural conditions of the tundra, one should study the main factors influencing people’s lives:
Geographical position
Tundra on the map of the main natural areas of the world
Legend: - Tundra.
The natural tundra zone is found throughout the world and occupies 1/5 of the land. The Arctic tundra is located between 55° and 75° north latitude, covering the following regions of the planet: Alaska (in the northern regions), Northern Canada (from the Mackenzie River delta to Hudson Bay and northeastern Labrador), Greenland (northern edges of the island), Northern Scandinavia (from the Arctic Circle to the North and Baltic Seas) and Russia (northern Siberia from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific Ocean). Natural conditions characteristic of the tundra are also found in Antarctica and high in the mountains on all continents of the Earth.
Relief and soils
The tundra is an amazing flat landscape, which, under the constant influence of freezing and thawing of the earth, creates unique patterns on its surface. In the summer, water accumulates underground, and then freezes in the cold season and pushes up the soil, forming small hills called pingos.
Most of the tundra's soils were formed by sedimentary rocks left behind by retreating glaciers. Organic matter also serves as the main material for these young soils, which were still covered with ice 10,000 years ago. The harsh climate of the tundra keeps the soils of the natural zone frozen for most of the year, which plays an important role in the planet's carbon cycle. It is too cold here for organic matter to decompose, so all dead organisms remain trapped in the ice for thousands of years.
Climate
The tundra is famous for its extreme climate, which is the main reason for the sterility (with the exception of a few shrubs and lichens) of most of the lands of the natural zone. Winter lasts from 8 to 10 months, and summer is cool and short. Also, due to the fact that most of the tundra territory is located within the North Pole, it is characterized by 6-month periods of light and darkness. The sun's rays pass at a strong angle, not providing normal heating. Below are the main temperature indicators characteristic of this natural area:
- Average January temperature: -32.1° C;
- Average July temperature: +4.1° C;
- Temperature range: 36.2°C;
- Average annual temperature: -17° C;
- Minimum recorded temperature: -52.5°C;
- Maximum recorded temperature: +18.3° C.
The amount of precipitation in the tundra throughout the year is very low, averaging 136 mm, of which 83.3 mm is snow. This is due to low evaporation as average temperatures are below freezing, which does not allow enough time for snow and ice to melt. For this reason, the tundra is often called.
Vegetable world
Although most natural areas are covered with trees, the tundra is known for its absence. The term "tundra" comes from the Finnish word "tunturia", which means "treeless plain". Many factors influence the absence of trees. Firstly, due to the short summer, the growing season is shortened, which makes it difficult for trees to grow. Constant and strong winds also make the natural conditions of the tundra unsuitable for tall plants. It also prevents roots from penetrating into the soil, and low temperatures slow down decomposition, limiting the amount of nutrients circulating in the environment.
Although some trees are found in the tundra, the flora of the natural area consists of small plants, such as low shrubs, grasses, mosses and lichens.
Plants native to this region have developed important adaptations that ensure their survival in such a harsh environment. During the winter months, many plants go into a dormant state to survive the cold. Plants that are at rest remain alive, but stop active growth. This allows you to save energy and use it during the more favorable conditions of the summer months.
Some plants have developed more specific adaptations for survival. Their flowers move slowly behind the sun throughout the day to capture the heat of the sun's rays. Other plants have a protective coating, such as thick hairs, that help protect against wind, cold, and drying out. Although plants in most natural areas shed their leaves, there are species of flora in the tundra that retain old leaves to increase survival. By leaving old leaves, they retain nutrients and also provide protection from cold weather.
Animal world
Even though the tundra natural area is not rich in wildlife diversity, there are several species of animals found in it. Large herbivores such as reindeer and elk live here. They feed on moss, grasses and shrubs that come across their path. As for predators, they are represented by the wolf and the common arctic fox. They play the most important role in the tundra ecosystem by controlling herbivore populations. Otherwise, the herbivores would eat all the plants and eventually starve to death.
There are also many birds that nest in the tundra during the summer months and migrate south in the winter. Polar and brown bears are also not uncommon in this natural area. Some other animals of the arctic tundra include: snowy owl, lemmings, weasels, and arctic hare. But perhaps the most annoying of all the fauna of the region are mosquitoes and midges, which fly around in huge flocks.
Due to the extreme climate, tundra animals had to develop appropriate adaptive features. The most common adaptation among animals is thick white fur or feathers. The snowy owl uses white camouflage to disguise itself from potential predators or prey. Among insects, dark color predominates, allowing them to capture and retain most of the daytime heat.
Natural resources
The tundra has many natural resources, and most of them are very valuable, such as the remains of the woolly mammoth. Another important natural resource of the natural area is oil, which can pose a serious threat to nature. If an oil spill occurs, many animals will die, disrupting the fragile ecosystem. The region is rich in, for example, berries, mushrooms, whales, walruses, seals and fish, as well as, for example, iron.
Tundra natural zone table
| Geographical position | Relief and soils |
Climate | Flora and fauna | Natural resources |
| The Arctic tundra is located between 55° and 75° north latitude in Eurasia and North America. Alpine tundra is found in mountains around the world. Antarctic tundra is found at the South Pole. |
The relief is flat. | The climate is cold and dry. The average temperature in January is -32.1° C, and in July +4.1° C. Precipitation is very low, with an average of 136 mm, of which 83.3 mm is snow. | Animals
polar foxes, polar bears, wolves, reindeer, hares, lemmings, walruses, polar owls, seals, whales, salmon, grasshoppers, mosquitoes, midges and flies. Plants shrubs, grasses, lichens, mosses and algae. |
oil, gas, minerals, remains of mammoths. |
Peoples and cultures
Historically, the tundra natural area has been inhabited by people for thousands of years. The region's first inhabitants were early humans Homo glacis fabricatus, which had fur and lived in low vegetation. Then came people from many indigenous tribes in Asia, Europe, and other places in the northern hemisphere. Some of the inhabitants of the tundra were nomads, while others had permanent homes. The Yupik, Alutiiq, and Inupiat are examples of the tundra peoples of Alaska. Russia, Norway and Sweden have their own tundra inhabitants called Nenets, Sami or Lapps.
Meaning for humans
As a rule, the harsh climate of the tundra natural zone prevents human activity. The region is rich in valuable, but
Biodiversity and habitat conservation programs protect it from harmful interference. The main benefit of the tundra for humans is the retention of large volumes of carbon in the frozen soil, which has a positive effect on the global climate of the planet.
Environmental threats
Due to the extreme living conditions in the tundra natural area, many do not realize that it is very fragile. Pollution due to oil spills, large trucks, and factories disrupt environment. Human activities are also creating problems for the aquatic life of the region.
Major environmental threats include:
- Melting permafrost as a result of global warming could radically change the local landscape and impact negative impact on biodiversity.
- Depletion of the ozone layer at the North and South Poles increases ultraviolet radiation.
- Air pollution can lead to smog, which contaminates lichens, which are an important source of food for many animals.
- Exploration for oil, gas, and other minerals, as well as the construction of pipelines and roads, can cause physical disturbances and habitat fragmentation.
- Oil spills cause enormous harm wildlife and the tundra ecosystem.
- Buildings and roads increase the temperature and pressure on the permafrost, causing it to melt.
- Invasive species deplete native flora and reduce plant cover diversity.
Protection of the natural tundra zone
To protect the tundra from anthropogenic human activity, it is necessary to solve the following priority tasks:
- Transition to alternative energy sources to minimize anthropogenic global warming.
- Establishing protected areas and reserves to limit human impact on wildlife.
- Limitation of road construction, mining, and pipeline construction in the tundra natural area.
- Limiting tourism and honoring the culture of the indigenous peoples of the region.
