Tundra - where is it? Not everyone is able to answer this seemingly simple question. Let's figure it out. Tundra is a natural zone (more precisely, a type of zone) lying behind the northern forest vegetation. The soil there is permafrost, not flooded by river and sea waters. Snow cover rarely exceeds 50 cm, and sometimes does not cover the ground at all. Permafrost and constant strong winds adversely affect fertility (humus that has not had time to “ripen” in summer is blown out and frozen out).
Etymology of the term
In principle, tundra is a general concept. Still, some clarifications are needed here. Tundra can actually be different: swampy, peaty, rocky. From the north, they are limited by the Arctic deserts, but their southern side is the beginning of the Arctic. The main feature of the tundra is swampy lowlands with high humidity, permafrost and strong winds. The vegetation there is relatively sparse. Plants cling to the soil, formingmultiple intertwining shoots (plant "pillows").
The concept itself (the etymology of the term) was borrowed from the Finns: the word tunturi means "treeless mountain". For a long time, this expression was considered provincial and was not officially accepted. Perhaps the concept took root thanks to Karamzin, who insisted that "this word should be in our vocabulary", because without it it is difficult to designate vast, low, treeless plains overgrown with moss, which travelers, geographers, poets could talk about.
Classification
As already mentioned, tundra is a generalized concept. In fact, it is divided into three main zones: arctic, middle and southern. Let's take a closer look at them.
- Arctic tundra. This subzone is herbaceous (mostly). It is characterized by subshrubs of pillow-shaped forms and mosses. There are no "correct" bushes. It has many clay bare areas and permafrost heaving mounds.
- The middle tundra (it is called typical) is predominantly moss. Near the lakes there is sedge vegetation with modest herbs and cereals. Here you can see creeping willows with dwarf birches, lichens, hidden mosses.
- The southern tundra is predominantly a shrub zone. The vegetation here depends on the longitude.
Climate
The climate here is quite severe (subarctic). That is why the fauna in the tundra is very scarce - far from allanimals are able to endure such strong winds and cold. Representatives of large fauna are very rare. Since the main part of the tundra is located above the Arctic Circle, winters here are not only much harsher, but also much longer. They do not last three months, as usual, but twice as long (they are called polar nights). At this time, the tundra is especially cold. The continental climate dictates the severity of winter. In winter, the average temperature in the tundra is -30 ºС (and sometimes even lower, which is also not uncommon).
As a rule, there is no climatic summer in the tundra (it is very short). August is considered the warmest month. The average temperature at this time is +7-10 °C. It is in August that the vegetation comes to life.
Flora, fauna
Tundra is the realm of lichens and mosses. Sometimes you can find angiosperms (more often these are low cereals), low shrubs, dwarf trees (birch, willow). Typical representatives of the animal world are a fox, a reindeer, a wolf, a bighorn sheep, a hare, a lemming. There are also birds in the tundra: white-winged plover, Lapland plantain, ptarmigan, snowy owl, plover, snow bunting, red-throated pipit.
Tundra is the "end of the earth", whose reservoirs are rich in fish (vendace, whitefish, omul, nelma). There are practically no reptiles: due to low temperatures, the vital activity of cold-blooded animals is simply impossible.
