Climate

• Found only in the Northern Hemisphere, the subarctic climate experiences the largest annual temperature range anywhere. Winter temperatures can be as low as minus 40 F while daytime summer temperatures can climb as high as 86 F. One of the defining factors of the subarctic region is that it must have at least one month in which the average temperature is at least 50 F. Precipitation in this region occurs mainly as snow and ranges from 15 to 50 inches a year.
  
  

Flora

• The frozen tundra of the Arctic Circle give way to coniferous forests known as taiga. In Canada, it is also known as boreal forest. Taiga is dominated by conifers, including larch, spruce, fir and pine. The evergreen varieties of conifers are able to withstand the harsh winters found in this region. Several species of deciduous trees are also found in taiga, including alder, birch, poplar and willow. Herbaceous plants and grasses provide groundcover where the sun is able to penetrate the forest, and mosses and lichens are commonly found on damp ground and tree trunks.
  
  

Fauna

• A wide range of animal species are present in taiga, including 85 mammals, 130 fish and more than 32,000 insects. Since reptiles and amphibians are coldblooded and require warm temperatures to stay warm, they are not suited for survival in this region, although some species that hibernate in the ground during the winter can be found in taiga. Mammals in this region include both herbivores and carnivores that have evolved to survive the extreme winters. Some mammals pack on the pounds in the summer and hibernate in the winter, while others have layers of fur or feathers for insulation. Common mammals in this region include moose, caribou, grizzly bears, lynx and wolves.
  
  

Humans

• Native Americans living in this region were nomadic. Their housing was small and easy to disassemble and transport. Canoes and sleds were used for transportation depending on the season. Hunting and fishing were the primary sources of food because agriculture was not possible because of the short summers and poor soil conditions.