The tundra covers the northern part of Russia and Canada. Its nature is rather scarce, and the climate is considered harsh. Because of these characteristics, it received another name - the Arctic desert. If we consider the geographical position of the tundra, we can see that this zone includes islands located in the Arctic Ocean, and the northern part of Russia and Canada.
Location of the tundra zone
The Arctic desert extends a wide strip along the entire coast of the Arctic Ocean. Here the climate is not mild and high temperatures, and nature is scarce and stunted. In the tundra, winter lasts nine months, and in the summer it is pretty cool.
Low temperatures cause the earth to freeze and not thaw completely, and only the top layer can melt. In such a natural zone you can not meet forests and tall trees. This area is rich in swamps, streams, mosses, lichens, low plants and shrubs that can survive in such a harsh climate. Their flexible stems and low height perfectly adapt to piercing cold winds.
On vast areas you can see glaciers or stone placers. The tundra has an invaluable array of shallow small lakes. This is especially noticeable on the map of Canada, Russia, Finland. The geographical position of the tundra contributes to the abundant floods of rivers.
What is interesting about this northern zone
One can note the heterogeneous features of the geographical position of the tundra. From the north to the south there are three subzones. There is an arctic subzone near the Arctic Ocean, then it is replaced by a moss-lichen one, and to the south lies an area consisting of dwarf birches, cloudberry bushes and polar willows. The tundra itself is very beautiful. In summer, you can see how it sparkles with bright colors. All thanks to shrubs blueberries, blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries.
Climate in the Arctic Deserts
Latitudes of the tundra zone have low radiation annual balances. Winter in this zone lasts a long time - eight, or even nine months. Unusually beautiful polar nights are observed here. In the cold season, frost and wind are a common occurrence. The winter air temperature in January for the European part of the tundra has indicators up to 10 degrees below zero. However, closer to the east, the climate becomes sharply continental. Therefore, the temperature of January can reach -50 and below degrees Celsius.
Summer does not last long, it is cold and windy, a long polar day is observed. Typically, the average air temperature in July is no more than 4 degrees Celsius; drizzling rain and fog can often be observed. The geographic location of the tundra in Russia is a zone from the western part of the country and right up to the Bering Strait. It occupies 1/6 of the entire territory of the country. In Siberia, the greatest extent is observed from north to south.
Strong snowstorm and hurricane winds are common phenomena in this area. They are so impetuous that they can knock down not only a person, but also a deer.
What is the tundra in summer
What are the features of the geographical location of the tundra in the summertime? At this time of the year, you can find edible mushrooms and many delicious berries that extend over a colorful carpet, and you can also see grazing herds of proud reindeers. Thus, they look for food in the summer. Deers feed on everything they see: lichens, leaves of shrubs. In winter, they will also find food in the form of deer mosses.
Unique plant world
The organic world of the tundra is poor. It is difficult to call the tundra-gley soils of this zone fertile, since they are completely frozen. Not all plants can survive in harsh northern conditions, where there is so little heat and sunlight. The best places to live here are lichens and mosses, polar poppy, black funnel, princess, late Loydia, mesaceous sedge, saxifrage, snow buttercup, and others. Such plants are an unusual treat for local wildlife. What other greens can be observed in this zone? About 300 species of flowering and almost 800 different species of lichens and mosses.
All plants here are dwarf. The so-called "forest" can reach you only to the knee, and the "trees" will not be higher than the mushroom. The geographical location of the tundra is completely unsuitable for forests, and all because of the permafrost, which persists for many years in a row.
Animals of the tundra zone
On cliffy rocky shores you can observe noisy birds. The geographical position of the natural zone of the tundra is suitable for those animals who prefer the sea. A large amount of water is a great habitat for waterfowl: geese, ducks, loons. You can find passerines, waders, waterfowl, white geese, peregrine falcon, tundra partridge, lark. Here you will not find reptiles, but frogs can be found among amphibians. The animal kingdom is also rich in hare, polar fox, weasel, fox, wolf, polar and brown bear, musk musk ox and, of course, reindeer. The lakes of the tundra are rich in a wide variety of fish - salmon and dallia.
Reindeer is another feature of Arctic deserts
They are not only a feature, but also a symbol that the tundra zone is proud of. The geographical location for these animals is very convenient to inhabit. They exist not only in the open blown area, but also on the islands of the Arctic Ocean. Moreover, these are the only ones from the family of ungulates that can exist here. We can observe large horns in both males and females. The main source of reindeer nutrition is tundra plants. These are lichens (reindeer moss), buds, grass, small shoots of shrubs. In winter, they can extract plants from under the snow, while breaking it with hooves.
Deer hair in winter is thick and long, well developed undercoat (to retain heat in severe frosts). In summer, it becomes more rare and light. Summer color of deer - from grayish to brown. In winter, it is more white. The special hoof structure allows reindeers to successfully and quickly move through marshy swamps and deep snow. These are herd animals and polygamous.
In winter, they move to places where vast reindeer pastures are observed. One hundred or more kilometers from the habitat in summer is not a problem for winter deer migrations. They molt no more than once a year. This animal is sensitive, has a great sense of smell, and also knows how to swim. Deer can freely cross lakes and rivers.
How are the components of nature interconnected in the tundra zone
If we consider the geographical position of the tundra, we can note that forests begin in the southern part. So the forest-tundra originates. It stretched along the entire southern border of the tundra. It is already a little warmer here - in summer the temperature reaches 14 degrees. A large amount of precipitation falls in the forest-tundra, which does not have time to evaporate. Thus, wetlands appear. The main food for the full-flowing local rivers is thawed snow. The first months of summer are the peak of high water. The geographical position of the tundra zone is gradually giving way to the forest-tundra.
Man has long begun to develop the northern area. Gradually, the landscape, which extends beyond the Arctic Circle, was increasingly populated and transformed. Sea fishing is the main occupation of the northern nationalities: Chukchi and Eskimos. Hunting for local animals laid down its traditions of food and clothing style. Meat of marine inhabitants, venison, fish, poultry are the main food products. Thanks to reindeer husbandry and hunting, the skins of fur and other animals are mined, which are subsequently used as clothing.
How forest tundra differs from tundra
Lesotundra is located in the zone between the tundra and taiga. In the river valleys you can already see more forests with tall trees. This is how the geographical position of the tundra and forest-tundra differ. Here between the rivers you can find small islands of low trees with a cover of lichen. Summer is warmer and longer. Due to the presence of trees, the wind speed here is not felt as much as in the tundra, where the terrain is completely open.
Removing the forest-tundra from the ocean contributes to severe winters with severe frosts. Soils thaw much deeper, and permafrost is observed only in certain areas. The main food of the rivers is also snowmelt.