THE ARCTIC
INTRODUCTIONThe Arctic is a very cold place in the most northern part of the world. It begins at the North Pole and ends at the Arctic Circle (an imaginary line on maps). The Arctic includes the Arctic Ocean, parts of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Sweden, Norway and Finland. In Canada, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut are in the Arctic region. (see map ). Arctic researchers also think of the Arctic as the area north of the tree line or the region where summer temperatures do not rise above 10 degrees Celsius.THE LAND tundra means "barren land"
If you travel from the south, the farther north you
go, the smaller the trees become and the farther apart the trees grow. Where
the trees end, the tundra begins. Trees do not grow on the tundra
because it is too cold. The ground is frozen.
Only a thin layer of soil (permafrost) thaws in the summer and the growing season is short.
Plankton are tiny plants, animals and bacteria that float on the surface.
Fish and many sea creatures feed on plankton.
Krill are tiny lobster-like creatures that
are food for fish, clams, seabirds, whales, walruses and seals.
Winter temperatures average -35 degrees C. The farther north you go, the colder and darker it gets. On Ellesmere Island in Canada's far north, the temperatures drop as low as -50 degrees C. Depending how far north you go, there can be little or no daylight for nearly six months.
Snow covers the ground for eight months of the year. There are places where the ice and snow never melts.
Many animals live on the tundra, including
caribou. lemmings, musk oxen, arctic foxes and wolves.
Some animals stay all year round, others migrate to warmer places for the winter.
Arctic animals have thick coats to keep them warm.
Those living in the icy water have blubber (a thick layer of fat under the skin).
Many Arctic animals live in the ocean.
Some of these animals are called mammals. Polar bears, walruses, seals and whales are mammals that live in the ocean.
There are also many kinds of fish ( Arctic char, trout and grayling ). To survive in the icy water, fish produce an "antifreeze" protein that keeps their blood ice-free.
In May and early June hundreds of thousands of birds migrate to the Arctic to nest and raise their young.
The steep cliffs of the Arctic islands are nesting sites for murres and other sea birds.
Loons, snow geese, snowy owls, tundra swans and many other birds nest on the tundra.
In the fall birds fly south. Some birds, like the ptarmigan, stay in the Arctic all year round
How can anyone survive in such a cold place? The people have to dress well to protect themselves in
the cold winters. They live in small communities where there are stores, churches and schools.
The larger communities have health centres to care for the sick.
They watch television and play video games. Children go snowmobiling, skating, snowboarding, ice fishing and play hockey and ski.
Some of the food they eat is different - seal, walrus, whale, caribou, musk ox, bear, Arctic hare, geese, ducks, ptarmigan, Arctic char (fish), wild plants and berries.
|
| ** INTRODUCTION ** PEOPLE ** ANIMALS ** PLANTS ** CLIMATE CHANGE ** INDEX of ARCTIC web pages ** |
