Taiga
"Taiga" refers to a biome characterized by coniferous forests. Taigas have very cold climates with highs reaching only 50 degrees in the summer. A taiga experiences very little precipitation throughout the year, averaging between 200 mm and 750 mm annually.
Very few plants can survive in the taiga due to its harsh weather conditions. Most plants, such as the pine tree, are coniferous that can survive the cold of the taiga. Some plants, like the Lady's Slipper Orchid, is a rare species found in the taiga, growing under trees for protection from the cold. The Labrador Tea is also a rare plant found in the Taiga.
The Pine Tree
The Pine Tree has hundreds of subspecies, most occurring in the Northern United States and Canada. Pine trees are evergreen trees with thick bark to protect them in the harshest conditions.
Lady's Slipper Orchid
The Lady's Slipper Orchid or Cypripedioideae is an endangered species native to Canada.
The Labrador Tea
The Labrador Tea or Ledum groenlandicum is a rare flower found in the taiga in Norway rich with Vitamin C and used for medicinal and healing purposes.
The Taiga is full of large mammals including bears and moose. Birds in the taiga include snowy owls and snow geese. Insects are mostly mosquitoes and beetles.
The Grizzly Bear
The Grizzly Bear or Ursus arctos is a subspecies of brown bear native to North America. This large mammal can reach 790 pounds and 6.5 feet! Its thick fur and skin help it survive in the harsh conditions of the taiga.
The Moose
The Moose or Alces alces is the largest species of the deer family. These large animals can reach over a thousand pound but are generally very mundane animals.
The Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl or Bubo scandiacus is a large bird native to the Arctic regions of North America.
The Snow Goose
The Snow Goose or Chen caerulescens is a species of goose native to the northern region of North America. These birds nest in the taiga in spring and spend the winter in Texas and Mexico.
The Mosquito
The Mosquito or Culiseta longiareolata is found in the taiga because it is relatively flat and when the snow melts, its has nowhere to go, attracting the mosquitos.
Bark Beetles
The evergreen trees in the taiga provide the perfect home for bark beetles such as these.