Zone of arctic or icy deserts. Natural zone of the Arctic deserts. You may be interested

The Arctic Desert, the northernmost of all natural zones, is part of the Arctic geographical zone and is located in the latitudes of the Arctic, stretching from Wrangel Island to the Franz Josef Land archipelago. This zone, which consists of all the islands of the Arctic Basin, is mostly covered with glaciers and snow, as well as rock fragments and rubble.

Arctic desert: location, climate and soil

The arctic climate means long, harsh winters and short cold summer without transitional seasons and with frosty weathering. In summer, the air temperature barely reaches 0 ° C, it often rains with snow, the sky is overcast with gray clouds, and the formation of thick fogs is due to the strong evaporation of ocean water. Such a harsh climate is formed both in connection with the critically low temperature of high latitudes, and due to the reflection of heat from the surface of ice and snow. For this reason, animals inhabiting the zone of the Arctic deserts have fundamental differences from representatives of the fauna living in continental latitudes - they are much easier to adapt to survive in such harsh climatic conditions.

The glacier-free space of the Arctic is literally shrouded in permafrost, therefore, the process of soil formation is at the initial stage of development and is carried out in a poor layer, which is also characterized by the accumulation of manganese and iron oxides. On fragments of various rocks, characteristic iron-manganese films are formed, which determine the color of the polar desert soil, while solonchak soils form in coastal areas.

There are practically no large stones and boulders in the Arctic, but small flat cobblestones, sand and, of course, the famous spherical concretions of sandstone and silicon, in particular, spherulites, are found here.

Vegetation of the arctic desert

The main difference between the Arctic and the tundra is that in the tundra there is the possibility of existence for a wide range of living creatures that can feed on its gifts, and in the Arctic desert it is simply impossible to do this. It is for this reason that there is no indigenous population on the territory of the Arctic islands and very few representatives of flora and fauna.

The territory of the Arctic desert is devoid of shrubs and trees, there are only isolated from each other and small areas with lichens and mosses of rocks, as well as various rocky soil algae. These small islands of vegetation resemble an oasis among the endless expanses of snow and ice. The only representatives of herbaceous vegetation are sedge and grasses, and flowering plants are saxifrage, polar poppy, alpine foxtail, ranunculus, grains, bluegrass and arctic pike.

Wildlife of the Arctic Desert

The terrestrial fauna of the northern region is relatively poor due to very sparse vegetation. Almost the only representatives of the animal world of the ice deserts are birds and some mammals.

The most common birds are:

In addition to the permanent inhabitants of the Arctic skies, migratory birds also appear here. When the day comes in the north, and the air temperature gets higher, birds from the taiga, tundra and continental latitudes arrive in the Arctic, therefore, black geese, white-tailed sandpipers, snow geese, brown-winged plovers, ringed beetles, upland buzzards and dunlin periodically appear off the coast of the Arctic Ocean . With the onset of the cold seasons, the above species of birds return to the warmer climes of more southern latitudes.

Among the animals, one can distinguish the following representatives:

• reindeer;
• lemmings;
• White bears;
• hares;
• seals;
• walruses;
• arctic wolves;
• arctic foxes;
• musk oxen;
• beluga whales;
• narwhals.

Polar bears have long been considered the main symbol of the Arctic, leading a semi-aquatic lifestyle, although the most diverse and numerous inhabitants of the harsh desert are sea birds that nest on cold rocky shores in summer, thereby forming "bird colonies".

Adaptation of animals to the arctic climate

All of the above animals forced to adapt to life in such harsh conditions, so they have unique adaptive features. Of course, the key problem of the Arctic region is the possibility of maintaining the thermal regime. To survive in such a harsh environment, it is with this task that animals must successfully cope. For example, arctic foxes and polar bears are saved from frost thanks to warm and thick fur, loose plumage helps birds, and for seals, their fat layer is saving.

An additional rescue of the animal world from the harsh Arctic climate is due to the characteristic color acquired immediately by the onset of the winter period. However, not all representatives of the fauna, depending on the season, can change the color given to them by nature, for example, polar bears remain the owners of snow-white fur throughout all seasons. The natural pigmentation of predators also has advantages - it allows them to successfully hunt and feed the whole family.

Interesting inhabitants of the icy depths of the Arctic

When you hear the word "desert", what immediately comes to mind? For most people, the desert evokes images of endless sandy expanses, high temperatures, and scrub vegetation. To some extent, this representation is accurate. Many of the world's deserts are characterized by large amounts of sand and high temperatures (at least during daylight hours).

However, there are Arctic deserts that are fundamentally different from the rest of the deserts. There is no sand here, and temperatures are often far from hot, but rather sub-zero.

If you know anything about the Arctic, you are probably wondering who came up with the idea to call this region a desert. After all, the Arctic has the Arctic Ocean. However, arctic temperatures are so low that the ocean is almost always covered in ice. Severe frost also means that the air is unable to retain moisture. Thus, the air is dry, as in a classic desert.

Another weighty argument is the insignificant amount of precipitation in the form of rain or snow. In fact, the Arctic receives about the same amount of rainfall as the Sahara. All of the above factors have led to the emergence of the concept of "arctic or cold desert".

Natural conditions of the Arctic desert zone

To determine the natural conditions of the Arctic desert, below is a brief description and table of the main factors (geographical location, topography, soil, climate, natural resources, flora and fauna) that affect the life of people in this natural area.

Geographical position

Arctic desert on the map of the main natural areas of the world

Legend:

Arctic deserts

The natural zone of the Arctic desert is located above 75 ° north latitude and is adjacent to the North Pole of the Earth. It covers a total area of ​​more than 100 thousand km². The Arctic Desert covers Greenland, the North Pole and several islands, many of which are inhabited by humans and animals.

Relief

The relief of the Arctic desert consists of various physical features: mountains, glaciers and flat areas.

The mountains: the arctic desert contains mountainous regions where a cold and dry climate prevails. In appearance, some of the region's mountains resemble mountains in Central America.

Glaciers: due to extremely low temperatures, the arctic desert is replete with numerous glaciers of various shapes and sizes.

Flat areas: make up the bulk of the region's territory and have a distinct patterned texture, which is the result of cycles of melting and freezing water.

If you've watched the TV series Game of Thrones, then the lands beyond the Wall give you a general idea of ​​what the Arctic wilderness looks like. These scenes were filmed in Iceland, which is not officially part of the Arctic desert, but has a superficial resemblance to it.

Soils

In the main part of the territories of the natural zone of the Arctic desert, the soils remain frozen for most of the year. The permafrost reaches 600-1000 m deep and makes it difficult to drain water. In summer, the surface of the Arctic desert is covered with lakes from the melt water of the upper soil layer. Crushed stone and rocks, due to the movement of glaciers, are scattered throughout the natural zone.

The soil horizon of the Arctic deserts is very thin, poor in nutrients, and also includes a lot of sand. In warmer areas, there are soil types that contain little organic matter and are capable of supporting the growth of small shrubs, algae, fungi and mosses. One such soil type is brown soils.

Climate

The climate of the natural zone of the Arctic desert is characterized by long, very cold winters and short, cool summers. During the cold months (typically December to January), temperatures can drop as low as -50°C. During the warmer months (typically July), temperatures can rise to +10°C. However, over many months, average temperatures range from -20° to 0°C.

The arctic desert receives very little rainfall. The average annual rainfall is below 250 mm. Precipitation, as a rule, falls in the form of snow and light drizzle, more often in the warm season.

During the summer months, the sun does not set at all in the Arctic desert. In fact, for 60 days, the sun is above the horizon around the clock.

Animals and plants

In total, about 700 plant species and about 120 animal species are found in the natural zone of the Arctic deserts. Flora and fauna have adapted to survive and even thrive in such extreme conditions. Plants were able to adapt to nutrient-poor soils, low ambient temperatures and low rainfall. , as a rule, have a thick layer of fat and thick wool to protect from the cold. They breed during the short summer and often hibernate or migrate during the winter. The birds usually fly south during the cold winter months.

Only about 5% of the territories of the natural zone of the Arctic desert has vegetation cover. Although this is not surprising, given the status of the desert. Most plant life consists of the following plants: lichens, mosses and algae, which can survive in the extreme conditions of the Arctic.

Every year (especially in the warm season), some types of low (from 5 to 100 cm) shrub plants bloom. They typically include sedges, liverworts, grasses, and various kinds of flowers.

Animal life in the Arctic desert is very diverse. There are numerous mammals, birds, fish and insects. All these animals are adapted to extremely low temperatures. Here are some examples of animals from the natural zone of the Arctic deserts:

• Mammals: arctic foxes, polar bears, wolves, squirrels, hares, arctic voles, lemmings, reindeer, seals, walruses and whales.
• Birds: crows, falcons, loons, sandpipers, snipes, terns and various types of gulls. Most of these birds are migratory (i.e. spend only part of their life cycle in the Arctic wilderness).
• Fish: trout, salmon, flounder and cod.
• Insects:

Natural resources

The Arctic includes significant reserves (oil, gas, minerals, fresh water and commercial fish species). Also in recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest in this region from tourists, which also provides additional economic benefits.

The pristine and vast deserts of the Arctic play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity due to the growing human presence, as well as the fragmentation of vital habitats. The Arctic deserts are particularly susceptible to land cover depletion and habitat disturbance for the region's rare animals. The Arctic also contains 20% of the world's fresh water.

Table of the natural zone of the Arctic deserts

Geographical position	Relief and soil	Climate	Flora and fauna	Natural resources
Arctic regions located above 75° north latitude and receiving low rainfall (less than 250 mm per year).	The relief is mostly flat, but sometimes there are mountainous areas. Soils are very poor in organic nutrients and remain frozen for much of the year.	The climate is dry and cold. Average temperatures range from 0° to -20° C. In winter, the air temperature can drop below -50° C, and in summer it can rise to +10° C.	Animals mammals: polar foxes, polar bears, wolves, reindeer, hares, squirrels, voles, lemmings, walruses, seals and whales; birds: crows, falcons, loons, sandpipers, snipes, terns and gulls; fish: trout, salmon, flounder and cod; insects: grasshoppers, arctic bumblebees, mosquitoes, moths, midges and flies. Plants shrubs, grasses, lichens, mosses and algae.	oil, gas, minerals, fresh water, commercial fish species.

Peoples and cultures

The most numerous inhabitants of the Arctic deserts are the Inuit. If the word "Inuit" is not clear to you, then most likely you have heard of the Eskimos.

The Inuit have adapted their lives to the difficult conditions of the Arctic wilderness. As a rule, there are practically no building materials in the Arctic. The Eskimos build snow huts called igloos. In the summer, when the Igloo is melted, they live in tents made from animal skins and bones.

Given the extreme conditions of the desert, the Inuit do not grow crops or vegetables. They eat mainly meat and fish. Thus, their main food sources are fishing, as well as hunting for seals, walruses and whales.

For transportation, the Inuit usually use dog sleds. Sleighs are made of skins and bones. They are pulled by strong, hardy, sledding breeds of dogs (huskies, malmutes, samoyeds). When moving through the water, they use kayaks or umiaks. Kayaks are small boats suitable for carrying one or two people. Umiaks are large enough to carry several people, dogs, and supplies.

Eskimo communities are found in various parts of the Arctic desert and. In Greenland, they are known as Iñupiat or Yup'ik. In Russia they are called Eskimos. Regardless of name or geographic location, the Inuit speak the same language, Inuktitut. They also have similar cultural traditions and way of life.

Significance for a person

In recent years, the Arctic wilderness has experienced an increase in tourism. Visitors to the cold desert come here for the unique ecosystem and mesmerizing snowy landscapes. Lakes, rivers, streams and mountains provide additional leisure activities for tourists from all over the world. Some recreational activities include sea cruises, boating, sport fishing, mountain climbing, hunting trips, white water rafting, hiking, dog sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, and more. The non-setting sun during the arctic summer is another reason for the interest of tourists who visit the arctic desert for this surreal phenomenon. Visitors also experience Inuit culture and life by visiting their settlements. The Arctic Desert, being the planet's polar region, plays a key role in regulating the Earth's climate.

Environmental threats

The population of people in the natural zone of the Arctic desert and adjacent areas is quite low. The most pronounced threat comes from exploration and extraction of mineral deposits. Global warming is also having a negative impact on the Arctic desert environment, upsetting the delicate balance of this ecosystem. As the planet's temperature rises, it heats up and melts, releasing carbon from the soil into the atmosphere, which accelerates the processes of climate change. Due to global warming, polar ice is melting, which contributes to sea level rise and increases the threat of flooding of the planet's coastal regions. Melting ice caps also threaten polar bears. They need ice to hunt, and melting ice cuts and fragments their hunting grounds. In addition, orphaned cubs have even lower survival rates because they are left to fend for themselves.

Protection of the Arctic deserts

To protect the natural zone of the Arctic deserts, it is necessary to provide assistance, cooperation, coordination and interaction between states with the participation of communities of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection of the region.

The main goals of Arctic desert conservation include:

• Preservation of the rich biodiversity of the region;
• Sustainable use of renewable natural resources;
• Reduce pollution and wasteful consumption.

To achieve these goals, it is necessary to focus international attention on the following problematic aspects:

• Marine environment;
• Fresh water;
• biodiversity;
• Changing of the climate;
• Pollution;
• Oil and gas.

Only the political will and interaction of states can give a positive result in the struggle for the conservation of both the natural zone of the Arctic desert and the nature of the world as a whole.

Arctic deserts - a natural zone located in the Artik, the northern polar region of the Earth; part of the Arctic Ocean basin. This natural zone includes the northern outskirts of the continental Arctic and numerous islands located around the North Pole.

The Arctic desert zone is the northernmost natural zone with a characteristic arctic climate. The territory of such deserts is covered with glaciers and stones, and the flora and fauna are very scarce.

This message is dedicated to the peculiarities of the Arctic deserts as a natural zone.

Welcome to the Arctic!

Climate

Arctic the climate is very cold, with harsh winters and cool summers.

Winter in the Arctic is very long, strong winds blow, snowstorms rage for several weeks. Everything is covered with snow and ice. The air temperature reaches -60 °C.

From the second half of October comes polar night. It lasts for six long months. There is no sun in the sky, and only sometimes there are bright and beautiful northern lights. The duration of the auroras is different: from two or three minutes to several days. They are so bright that you can even read under their light.

Northern lights.

In winter, all animals either hibernate or travel south. Nature freezes, but at the end of February the sun appears, and the day begins to increase.

Beginning in the second half of May polar day, when the sun doesn't set at all. Depending on the latitude, the polar day lasts 60-130 days. Although the sun shines 24/7, there is little heat from the sun.

Long, long day.

Summer is very short, but during this time hundreds of thousands of different birds fly to the Arctic, pinnipeds come: walruses, seals, seals. The air temperature rises very slowly and reaches the positive mark only by July (+2-6 °C). The average temperature in summer is about 0 °C.

Already from the beginning of September, the air temperature drops below zero, and soon snow falls, water bodies are frozen.

Flora and fauna of the Arctic

The soils in the Arctic deserts are very poor. from plants grow mainly mosses and lichens, and even those do not form a continuous cover. Arctic flowers and small shrubs bloom in summer:

• polar poppy;
• polar willow;
• arctic buttercup;
• semolina;
• snow saxifrage;
• asterisk.

Polar poppy.

Herbs also grow: alpine foxtail, bluegrass, sow thistle, arctic pike. All these plants, even shrubs, do not grow more than 3-5 cm. There are no trees in the Arctic deserts.

The underwater flora is richer: there are up to 150 species of algae alone. Algae feed on crustaceans, and fish and birds are the most numerous animals of the Arctic deserts.

Birds settle in nests on rocks and form noisy "bird colonies". It:

• guillemots;
• seagulls;
• cleaners;
• eiders;
• dead ends;
• kittiwakes and other birds.

Northern bird.

On the coast pinnipeds live: walruses, seals, seals. In the sea there are whales, beluga whales.

The terrestrial animal world, due to the scarcity of the plant world, is not very rich. These are mainly arctic foxes, lemmings, polar bears.

The king of the Arctic deserts is the polar bear. This animal is perfectly adapted to life in a harsh region. He has a thick coat, strong paws, a sharp sense of smell. He swims well in the water, a wonderful hunter.

White bears in search of prey.

The bear's prey is mainly marine life: fish, seals, seals. It can eat eggs and chicks of birds.

Human impact on the natural zone of the Arctic deserts

The natural world of the Arctic deserts is fragile and slowly recovering. Therefore, the influence of man should be careful and careful. Meanwhile, the environment in this area is not very favorable:

• ice is melting;
• water and atmosphere are polluted;
• the population of animals, birds and fish is declining;
• the habitat of various animals is changing.

Man's exploration of the Arctic.

These negative processes due to human activities, active development of the natural resources of the Arctic zone: extraction of natural resources (natural gas, oil), fishing and seafood, shipping.

Meanwhile, the environmental problems of the Arctic deserts affect the entire climate of the Earth.

Plan

1. Location
2. Natural conditions
3. Plant world
4. Birds
5. Animal world
6. Power circuits
7. Population
8. Environmental issues

The zone of the Arctic deserts on the map is highlighted in gray-blue
1. Location of the Arctic desert zone:

• Geographical position: Arctic Ocean, northern seas and islands. The seas of the Arctic Ocean are very cold. All year round they are almost completely covered with ice, floating ice floes.
• Islands: Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, New Siberian Islands, Wrangel Island.
• Seas: Barents Sea, White Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea

Rivers carrying water to the seas of the Arctic Ocean: Pechora, Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Indigirka, Kolyma.

2. Natural conditions

Sun in the Arctic never rises high above the horizon. Its rays skim over the surface of the earth, giving it very little heat. That's why here realm of ice and snow . Long frosty winter 10-11 months, short cool summer. The surface of the ocean is covered with ice 3-5 meters thick or more. Blizzards rage over the ocean, frosts rage. The cold air of this zone is able to spread far to the south. The icy breath of the Arctic is felt throughout Russia. Therefore, the ice zone is often called the “refrigerator” of our country. In winter it's as cold as a freezer. The air temperature drops to -40-50 degrees below zero. In summer, in the ice zone, the temperature rises to +4 degrees above zero. This is also the temperature in the refrigerator, but in the fruit compartment.

Sometimes there is an amazing beauty of the polar lights. The whole sky is sparkling. And the reflection of light everywhere plays on the ice. Masses of light are divided into brilliant multi-colored bands and intertwined in the most bizarre way, sparkling with unusually pure and bright colors of the rainbow.

3. Plant world

To the harsh conditions of the Arctic deserts few species of living organisms have adapted . Lichens are found on the stones of the islands, they are very small .. Mosses and polar poppies have also adapted to life on the stones. In the water column, not covered with ice, there are a large number of plankton and algae, which enrich the water with oxygen and purify it from bacteria. They grow rapidly in the water during the Arctic summer and serve as food for millions of animals, which in turn feed on fish, squid and even giant whales.

4. Birds

Of the animals in these parts most of the birds . In summer, gulls, guillemots, and auks gather on the rocky shores. Noisy gatherings of seabirds on steep rocky shores are called "bird markets". Living in such a cluster, on inaccessible rocks, has its advantages: the birds are well protected from many predators. Here the birds hatch their chicks. Interestingly, guillemots do not build nests, but lay their eggs on bare rock ledges. Why don't eggs roll off rocks? Because they are pear shaped. But in the bird market, guillemots, puffins and kittiwakes have enemies. Large gulls nest near the bazaar - glaucous gulls, long-tailed skuas. These birds have learned to use other people's labor. A skua will take a fish from any bird. He chases and pounces until the bird leaves the fish - and he will pick it up on the fly! For this, the Skua was nicknamed Fomka the Robber.

5. Animal world

Except warm-blooded birds in the ice zone large mammals live .

Feels great here polar bear . White wool helps him to disguise himself and quietly sneak up on the future victim. Thick long hair is lubricated with a fatty substance secreted by the skin glands; it does not get wet in water, and does not freeze in frost. Polar bears travel across the Arctic ice, but they are also excellent swimmers. Polar bears hunt seals near ice holes, waiting for them to emerge for a breath of air. A thick layer of fat, evenly located under the skin, protects against cold weather. In the most severe frosts, polar bears bask in water, the temperature of which is + 2 ° C. When winter comes, bears dig a den in the snow, where they hide from adverse weather conditions (females).

Wandering in search of food wolves, foxes. The arctic fox is also called the polar fox. In winter, its fur becomes white and extremely thick. The white color allows the Arctic fox to camouflage in the snow and hunt with greater ease. It is omnivorous and feeds on birds, crabs or fruits.

Seals and walruses they spend most of their lives in the water, and come out on land for childbearing and molting. On hard ground, they are clumsy due to their sheet-like limbs. Walruses are larger than seals, walruses have tusks. The walrus uses bottom mollusks for food, the seal eats fish. A walrus can rest right in the water, while a seal needs to climb out onto ice floes to rest, where a polar bear can lie in wait for it.

The numerous aquatic animals that live in the ice zone include fish feeding on small crustaceans and algae. I live in the seas of the Arctic zone narwhal, bowhead whale, polar dolphin or beluga whale, killer whale .

6. Food chains that have developed in the Arctic.

1. Algae——> crustaceans——> fish——> birds

2. Algae crustaceans fish birds

seals

//////
White bears

7. Population

Here liveEskimos, Chukchi, Yakuts . A person is not a native inhabitant of the Arctic, but it has always attracted with its mysteriousness. The Northern Sea Route was laid. Scientific stations operate on the islands and in the ice of the Arctic Ocean. Brave explorers live and work here. They monitor the weather around the clock, day after day, and report it by radio to the mainland. People are engaged in fishing and hunting. But this is not always done intelligently.

8. Environmental issues

The main environmental problems of this region are

• — climate change and the melting of Arctic ice;
• - pollution of the waters of the northern seas by oil and chemical compounds, as well as by sea transport;
• — Decrease in the population of arctic animals and change in their habitat.

In general, studies show that temperatures in the Arctic are rising faster than in the rest of the world. According to 2004 data, over the past 30 years, the thickness of the Arctic ice has decreased by half on average. In the 21st century, most of the Arctic waters will be completely ice-free. And by 2070, the Earth may completely lose the northern ice cap

The main sources of pollution are the mining industry and transport, military installations, and the processing industry. Another important problem is the decline in the population of Arctic animals. Every year in early March, seal pups are born. At the age of 3-4 weeks, when small seals cannot hide from danger even in the water, people catch them on the ice by the thousands and kill them for their skins. The main enemy of the fox is man. The arctic fox attracts him with its luxurious fur. Thousands and thousands of these animals are destroyed for the sake of luxurious fur coats. The walrus, the pink gull have become rare, they are listed in the Red Book of Russia.

The boom in commercial fishing and the growing exploitation of oil and gas fields since the second half of the 20th century are seriously threatening resources once considered inexhaustible. People thought about their behavior, took rare animals under protection, limited fishing, created nature reserves.

9. Reserve "Wrangel Island"

Reserve "Wrangel Island" located on two islands: about. Wrangel and about. Herald, it was organized in 1976. Through the whole island from west to east there are three chains of mountains, separated by valleys. She-bears come to Wrangel Island from different parts of the Arctic. Every spring, scientists count up to two hundred lairs on the island in which babies are born. Therefore, the island is called the "maternity hospital" of polar bears. The island is inhabited by the largest of the ungulates of the Arctic - the musk ox, brought to the reserve from America. The reserve has the largest concentration of walruses. A large number of birds come to the island for nesting. In spring, you can meet a rare bird - a pink gull, it is called the firebird of the north. Wrangel Island is the only place where white geese nest.

According to experts from the Wrangel Island Reserve, poachers kill 200-300 polar bears in the Russian Arctic every year.

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You may be interested

The natural zone of the Arctic deserts is the very top of our planet. Its lower border is located approximately at 71 parallels, so where is Wrangel Island. It covers all the islands of the Arctic Ocean and a few continents: Eurasia and North America.

Description Plan of the Natural Zone

In terms of describing any Natural Area, the following items are mandatory:

• location geography;
• climate;
• vegetable world;
• animal world.

Geographical position

Among all the natural zones of Russia, the Arctic desert zone is the most unexplored. Its lower borders are Wrangel Island (71 parallels) and the upper one is the island of the Franz Josef Land archipelago (81 parallels).

This territory includes:

• part of the Taimyr Peninsula;
• land of Franz Josef;
• northern land;
• some islands of Novaya Zemlya;
• Novosibirsk Islands;
• Wrangel Island.

In addition, the territories of other countries belong to the Arctic desert zone:

• the island of Greenland (Denmark);
• archipelagos of Canada;
• island of Svalbard (Netherlands).

Rice. 1. Arctic desert

Climate characteristic

Almost the whole year in these latitudes is winter. Temperatures in Celsius are very low. On average -30° in January with drops to -50° and -60°. In July, maximum warming is possible up to +5° - 10°. On average, in July it stays +3°.

TOP 4 articleswho read along with this

In the Arctic zone, the day changes twice a year: the polar night lasts half a year, the second half - the polar day. Despite the fact that from April to September there is daylight around the clock, the sun does not warm the air.

The most beautiful thing in the Arctic zone is the northern lights. If you explain from the point of view of physics, then sunlight hits the magnetic particles of the poles, from which they begin to glow. The most colorful lights shimmer in red, orange, pink, purple and green.

Rice. 2. Northern lights

Flora and fauna

The zone where the Arctic desert is located is covered with eternal ice and snow. Only on those short warm days is it possible to see oases of green vegetation. In addition to mosses and lichens, on stony soil there are: polar poppy, grains, chickweed, bluegrass, buttercup, saxifrage. Sedge and grasses grow in swampy mud.

The meager flora does not give animals a chance to survive. From the earth they resort here: polar wolf, arctic fox, lemming. Seals and walruses live near the ocean. But the biggest pride is polar bears. Their lifestyle allows them to spend most of their time on land, but they prefer to hunt and breed in the water, while diving quite deep.

Rice. 3. A family of polar bears

There is a nature reserve on Wrangel Island, in which about 400 families of polar bears now live. Each of them has its own lair.

What have we learned?

The Arctic deserts are a very harsh region, stretching in the very north of our planet. There is practically no vegetation and a very poor fauna, but at the same time, those daredevils who were able to get here will be awarded an amazingly beautiful phenomenon - the northern lights.

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