25+ Interesting Facts About Tundra That Will Amaze You

Among all the interesting terrains in the world, the crude landscape of the Tundra region is quite intriguing.

Given the extreme weather conditions and the harsh external conditions in the Tundra regions, its ecosystem has always been a subject of interest. One common trait is that this ecosystem does not usually consist of trees, but life does exist in other forms.

For a number of reasons, the tundra biomes are quite different from the ecosystems that exist in most other parts of the world. The flora and fauna in these regions are also quite unique.

The regions where this ecosystem is found are covered in snow most of the time, and the soil remains frozen. These regions are also known for their diverse landscapes owing to the presence of both tall mountains and flatlands in the area.

Once you read about the tundra region here, check out more arctic tundra facts and arctic climate facts here at Kidadl.

Tundra Biome

Tundra biomes have always been interesting subjects of study because of their location closer to the earth’s poles and the extreme temperatures that exist. Different types of tundra ecosystems exist in different regions. Here are some interesting facts about the tundra biome:

• The Arctic tundra biome is one that exists along the arctic circle. This biome lies close to the north pole and is also the most famous tundra in the world.
• Antarctic Tundra biomes exist in the flatlands and islands in the Antarctic region, which is in the Southern Hemisphere. The conditions here are somewhat similar to those in the Arctic Tundra region.
• The Arctic tundra and Antarctic tundra are predominantly flat terrain. The Alpine tundra biomes are known for their high elevation.
• The natural ecosystem in these regions has evolved over the years, and factors like climate change and global warming have a strong role to play in this change.
• The temperature fluctuates depending on the season. Extremely cold winters are definitely the strongest traits here, but these regions are also called the land of the midnight sun, especially the Arctic Tundra.
• In this region, the sun can be seen round the clock during the summer. That's one reason why there are several plants growing here. Most of them hit their peak growing seasons during the summer.

Tundra Animals

There are more animals that exist in the Arctic Tundra region than the polar bears and penguins that most people know about. In fact, there are more than 50 different species of animals, all of which are capable of surviving extreme cold conditions. Read on to discover interesting facts about tundra animals:

• Arctic hares, snowy owls, arctic weasels, and arctic foxes are among the many animal species in the barren land of the Arctic tundra region.
• The Alpine tundra consists mainly of migratory species of animals, some of which include chamois, mountain goats, and ibex.
• Most of these animals also move to the flat grasslands during the harsh winters, while remaining at higher altitudes during warmer climates.
• The species of mammals found in the Antarctic tundra biome are quite similar to those found in the Arctic tundra region. There are mostly Arctic hares, polar bears, voles, and even birds like ravens.
• Beside the herbivorous and carnivorous animal species, there are also some types of fish that survive in these harsh conditions and some insects.
• Birds in these biomes, similar to the tundra alpine animals, are known to be migratory. They move to warmer places during the winter months.
• Summers in the tundra biome can be very different, especially since the insect count in these regions increases tremendously.
• Mosquitoes, moths, and grasshoppers are some of the most common insects found in this biome, both close to the north pole and the south pole.
• Most animals growing in these regions are known to change their coats so as to adapt to the changing seasons and the changing temperatures throughout the year.
• Winter hibernation is also quite common here, and most animals hibernate for several months at a stretch.
• One striking difference between this biome and other biomes is the dire shortage of amphibian and reptile species in these regions.

Tundra Climate

To summarize the climatic conditions in the tundra biome, there are long and cold winters and moderate summers. Here are some interesting facts about the tundra climate:

• The temperatures in the tundra regions are slightly different from the conditions that prevail in the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere.
• Winter temperatures in most parts of the tundra regions are lower than 32 F (0 C) and the situation can be even worse in the Arctic Tundra. Most of the winter days do not see the tiniest bit of sunlight, and there are days when the sun does not rise.
• Precipitation in the form of rainfall is pretty low in all of the tundra regions as the annual rainfall is mostly lower than 13.7 in (35 cm). In the Alpine tundra, the rainfall might be slightly more.
• The amount of rainfall here is very similar to the scarce amount of rain a desert gets. Despite being covered in snow most of the time, the conditions remain predominantly dry.
• Because of the extreme temperatures in these regions, tundra plants are mostly dwarf shrubs, lichens, and different types of grass.

Interesting Fact About The Tundra

The soil is known as permafrost, and it is a unique layer of frozen soil. Due to this, not many regular plants can survive in this region. The frozen ground conditions are also why the Tundra biome is known for its treeless land. Here are some interesting facts about the Tundra:

• The tundra biome of the Arctic region extends all the way from the North Pole to the coniferous forests in the region of Taiga. But these are barren lands with plants that have adapted to freezing cold winters and harsh soil conditions.
• Plants of these regions are known to be perennial and grow during summers while remaining dormant during winters, only to regrow from their original roots during the next summer.
• Plants here grow pretty fast during the growing season as it is quite short in most cases. Growth occurs for hardly two months, and the conditions are again unfavorable for plant growth.
• The temperatures of the permafrost have slightly increased. This results in the warming up of frozen soil, which in turn leads to the release of the trapped carbon dioxide in the soil in these regions. This can take a toll on the plants and animals in the region. This shows that climate change can have a drastic impact on the tundra biomes.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 25+ amazing facts about the tundra that will amaze you, then why not take a look at Arctic peoples facts or Arctic seaweed.