Taiga

The taiga is a geographical region characterized by dense, coniferous (evergreen) forests broken up by bodies of water. With its long, cold winters and low light, the taiga does not support a wide variety of species. However, the taiga covers a larger area than any other type of forest in the world.

The name taiga comes from a Russian word used to describe the evergreen forest of Siberia. It is also called a boreal forest and is taken from the word boreas meaning north wind. The taiga is always subject to the north wind because it is located only in the northern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, from Alaska, through Canada, across Eurasia, to Siberia where the largest tracts of taiga are located. At a similar latitude in the Southern Hemisphere, the land is too narrow, and therefore influenced by the ocean, to support a taiga-like environment.

PLANT LIFE IN THE TAIGA

A typical taiga forest is cold and dark, and broken up by lakes, rivers, and swamps. The dominant tree is the conifer, an evergreen that reproduces by making cones. The conifer is well-adapted to the taiga. It has branches that slope downward to prevent snow from building up, as well as a pointed shape and flexible trunk to cope with high winds. Growing conditions are harsh, since winters are extremely long. The taiga soil is poor because decomposition (breaking down of waste) takes so long. The soil is also highly acidic and low in minerals. Ground-level vegetation consists mostly of ferns, mosses, and shrubs that have adapted to the short growing season. Because of the slow rate at which things decompose, there are usually dense layers of peat (rotted vegetable matter) in the ever-present bog (wet, spongy ground consisting of decaying plant matter).

ANIMAL LIFE IN THE TAIGA

Animal life in the taiga includes woodland caribou, moose, brown bears, beaver, lynx, and wolves. Most animal life is medium to small-sized, including rodents, rabbits, sable, and mink. Most birds migrate (seasonally move) to warmer climates for the winter. Swarms of biting insects during the summer make the taiga a miserable place for humans and other warm-blooded animals (their internal temperature remains constant despite their environment). Most of the taiga is not well-suited for farming, although it does yield great quantities of lumber and support a fur trade in mink, sable, and ermine, among others.

[See alsoBiome ]