The tundra is located around the North Pole in the Arctic Circle. For most of the year it is covered in snow. In the short summers, the snow and ice melt to leave pools of meltwater. The layer of earth beneath the tundra is frozen all year long. This is called the permafrost. Industrial activity in the tundra may add to the world's environmental problems. Dust and grime make the ice darker, so less heat is reflected from the ice and global warming is increased.
How cold is the tundra?
The tundra is the coldest region in the world. Fierce winds blow while snow and ice cover the ground. Even the sea freezes as the temperature gets colder. The tundra receives less than 10 inches of precipitation yearly.
Sometimes the strong winds create "white outs" when the snow blows so much that it is hard to see! White outs last for days.
The tundra has a short summer that lasts from May to July. During the summer, the temperature only rises to about 50 degrees Farenheit. The average yearly temperature is only 10 to 20 degrees Farenheit.
What grows in the tundra?
Some plants are able to survive in the tundra. These plants are small. They stay near the ground to avoid the strong wind and cold temperatures. Hairy stems help to keep some plants warm. Plants in the tundra do not come alive until summer when the conditions are just right for growth. They spend most of their time in the snow. The dark red leaves on the plant pictured above allow it to absorb more heat from the sun.
Can animals live in the ice?
A large variety of animals live in the tundra for the whole year. They have special adaptations that allow them to survive in the winter weather. Some of these include: short legs; long hair; and a coat of thick fur. They have short tails and large, furry feet. Many animals have white fur which camoflauges them against the snow.
Every ten or thirteen years, the small mammals in the tundra breed in large numbers. The larger animals also grow in number because of the increase in their food supply. Soon the small mammals run out of plants to eat and many die. The larger animals begin to die and then the plants can grow back.
Some animals that live in the tundra are polar bears, caribou, and penguins.
Caribou are animals that are often called reindeer. They have thick fur to protect them from the cold weather of the tundra.
Tundra Facts
In the summer months, the sun shines all the time, even at midnight.The poles were not always so cold. The movement of the plates that make up the earth's suface, plus the warming and cooling of the planet, have caused the cold condtions that are present today.
As the sea freezes, the salt rises to the surface as crystals called ice flowers.
The only tree that grows in the tundra is the dwarf willow tree. It grows to a maximum of four inches tall.
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