THE EMPTY LANDS. THE TUNDRA.

Objectives To find out where the Tundra areas are To find out why they are difficult to live in To find out what they are like To find out what kind of people do live there, how they live, and what kind of jobs they do.

THE TUNDRA. LOCATION NORTHERN EUROPE. NORTHERN CANADA. ALASKA. SIBERIA. MOUNTAIN AREAS.

TUNDRA CLIMATE. LONG COLD WINTERS. SHORT COOL SUMMERS. VERY DRY. PRECIPITATION LOW. LESS THAN 250MM - FALLS AS SNOW. CLASSIFIED AS COLD DESERT. GROUND PERMANENTLY FROZEN. TOP LAYER MAY THAW IN SUMMER. VERY STRONG WINDS ARE COMMON.

COPING WITH THE CLIMATE. BLIZZARDS ARE COMMON. TRAVEL IN WINTER IS VERY DIFFICULT. ROADS ARE CLOSED FOR LONG SPELLS. PORTS CLOSED.

ADAPTING TO THE CLIMATE. GROWING SEASON IS VERY SHORT. SOME PLANTS GROW, FLOWER AND SEED IN 10 DAYS BEFORE THE WEATHER KILLS THEM.

MOSSES AND LICHENS ARE VERY COMMON. FLOWERS ARE SHORT AND BRIGHTLY COLOURED. BUSHES ARE DWARF, AND TREES ARE RARE.

TASK 1. IN YOUR JOTTERS. ANSWER THESE. 1. USE YOUR ATLAS AND NAME 4 COUNTRIES THAT HAVE A TUNDRA CLIMATE. 2. WHAT PROBLEMS DOES THE CLIMATE CAUSE? 3. WHY DO YOU THINK MOUNTAINS HAVE TUNDRA PLANTS? 4.HOW HAVE THE PLANTS ADAPTED TO THE CLIMATE? 5.WHY DO YOU THINK THERE ARE VERY FEW TREES?

WORKING IN THE TUNDRA. PARTS OF THE TUNDRA ARE RICH IN OIL AND MINERALS.

OIL PIPELINE IN ALASKA. ALASKA IS IN AN EARTHQUAKE ZONE, SO THE PIPELINE HAS TO BE BUILT TO WITHSTAND THEM. THE PIPELINE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN A QUAKE SO IT DOES NOT BREAK.

MOVING THE OIL. Look at page 18 in the atlas. The pipeline goes from the northern coast to the southern coast. Why can the oil not leave by ship? Look at the map. What does the pipeline have to cross to get to the south coast?

MOVING THE OIL 2. The weather in Alaska and other Tundra areas is so cold, that the oil has to be heated in the pipeline so that does not freeze.

LIVING IN THE TUNDRA. MOST SETTLEMENTS IN TUNDRA AREAS ARE ON THE COAST. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS ?

SETTLEMENTS. THERE ARE VERY FEW LARGE TOWNS IN THE TUNDRA. WHY? WHAT DO YOU NOTICE ABOUT THIS TOWN. THIS IS FAIRBANKS. IT IS NOT ON THE COAST. WHAT JOBS WOULD PEOPLE DO?

OTHER INDUSTRIES. FISHING IS A VERY IMPORTANT INDUSTRY. WHY IS THIS? HINT THINK OF THE CLIMATE.

OTHER INDUSTRIES.2. IN THE 19 TH CENTURY, GOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN THE YUKON AREA OF CANADA, AND THE AREA BECAME VERY IMPORTANT.

OTHER INDUSTRIES.3 OTHER MINERALS MINED IN THE TUNDRA INCLUDE COPPER. THIS COPPER MINE WOULD HAVE EMPLOYED A LOT OF PEOPLE. KIRUNA IN SWEDEN HAS LARGE DEPOSITS OF IRON ORE.

OTHER INDUSTRIES.4 THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY IS VERY IMPORTANT AS GOODS HAVE TO BE SUPPLIED ALL YEAR ROUND. WHAT FORM OF TRANSPORT IS MOST USED IN WINTER?

Other Industries 5. Tourism is now a very important industry in some Tundra areas. Why do you think this is ? What is the benefit to the areas of tourism? What are the problems of tourism?

Aurora Borealis These are often seen in Tundra areas because they are so far north. What is the more common name for them? Do you think they would be attractive to tourists?