Tundra Alpine and Arctic By: Angel Cunningham, Crystal McCool, and Madison Milka

What does tundra mean? Tundra- one of the vast, nearly level, treeless plains of the arctic and alpine regions The word tundra comes from the Finnish word "tunturia" which means barren land.

Two Types of Tundra Arctic Tundra- level or nearly level treeless plain that has permanently frozen subsoil . Alpine Tundra- large, flat or gently sloping, treeless tracts of land.

Where Tundras Are Found

(Including melting ice.) Climate In the Tundras Rainfall: 6 to 10 inches (Including melting ice.) Temperature: Winter -30 degrees Summer 37-54 degrees

Flora Low Shrubs Sedges Reindeer Mosses Grasses

Plants Adaptations Growing close together and low to the ground reduce effects of cold and damage caused by ice and snow that are driven by dry winds.

Fauna Carnivores: Arctic wolf Brown bear Arctic foxes Herbivores: Musk ox Rabbits

Animal Adaptations Small mammals have coats that change color from brown to white. Large mammals hibernate.

Random Facts winds can blow up to 30 to 60 miles per hour in the summer months when the ice begins to melt, it cannot be absorbed into the ground

Sources: Encarta® World English Dictionary[North American Edition] © & (P) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.