Taiga
Bundle up and head for the Tiaga! Like the Tundra, it can be very cold here!
Location:
The Tiaga is located just beneath the Tundra biome in Eurasia and North America. The Tiaga covers approximately 11% of the earth.
Climate:
If you come in the winter, make sure to bring very heavy clothes, boots and nice big coat. The winters here are very cold, with temperatures below freezing for over half the year. Average winter temperatures are around -65°-30° F. You can enjoy watching the snowflakes fall almost all winter long! The summertime is much warmer. The temperature is around 20°-70° F. During this time, it is warm and humid outside. There is lots of rain during the summer which only lasts from 50-100 days. Make sure to pack raingear!! You’ll be needing it.
Wildlife:
As you can imagine, due to the cold weather in the winter, not too many plants can survive here. The majority of the plants living here are trees with needle leaves, like Balsam Firs. These plants can survive in this environment by having waxy needle leaves that can withstand the cold. They never lose their leaves, not even in the winter!
You’ll see some amazing animals here, also. There are bears, owls and rabbits. Animals survive here by hibernating, or by producing a layer of insulated feathers or fur to keep them warm. Animals also camouflage themselves here. Some animals, such as the ermine, is brown during the summertime but their coat turns white in the winter to hide from predators. The birds love the area because of all the insects during the summertime. When the cold air starts moving in, they fly south to stay alive. Don’t forget your bug repellent!
Critical issues:
One of the biggest issues for the Tiaga is the wildfires. There are so many trees in an area that a fire can destroy a lot of land in a little bit of time. The good thing about the fires is that they burn off the tops of the trees allowing the sunlight to shine in and small plants to grow. These plants are vital food for animals that have a tough time all year around finding food.
Acid rain is a huge issue in the Tiaga biome. Acid rain occurs when pollutants released into the sky and create clouds. When these clouds get heavy with moisture, they produce rain that can completely destroy large parts of the Tiaga. This has happened many times and is a growing threat.
Interesting Facts:
* Some of the worlds oldest trees, including the Bristlecone Pine, are found in the Tiaga. They have found some that are over 4,600 years old!
*Since the Tiaga is prone to wildfire, many of the trees have adapted by growing thick bark to protect themselves.
*Because of the cold weather, decomposition is slow. Dead vegetation piles up on the ground.