Arctic Tundra
By:Chyna Hinton
Did you know the Arctic Tundra is on top of the world, around the North Pole! Also it is found in Northern Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. One unique characteristic of the Arctic tundra is permafrost, the ground that is PERMANENTLY frozen. The surface above the permafrost thaws each summer, this layer is called the active layer. Thickness of the active layer depends on the location in the Arctic Tundra.
Also there are very long, cold, dark winter’s nights. Sometimes the temperature gets as low as 32oF or 0oC.Another fact is the Arctic Tundra gets less rain then 10 inches of rain ( 25 centimeters)!Low precipitation (less than five inches/year) coupled with strong, drying winds. Snowfall is actually advantageous to plant and animal life as it provides an insulating on the ground surface.
Did you know that there are approximately 1,700 kinds of plants that live in the Arctic Tundra? Some plants that live in the Arctic Tundra include mosses, lichens, low growing shrubs, and grasses--but no trees. In fact ''Tundra in Finnish means ''treeless.
Did you know that not many animals live year-round in the Arctic Tundra? Most birds, such as the Snowy Owl, and mammals use the Tundra for summer homes. The animal’s adaptations are migration and hibernation. For example an Arctic fox or a Polar bear hibernates. Most of the animals are able to camouflage with their white thick fur. Also the fur can keep them warm. Snowy Owls also have white feathers to help them adapt.