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 Taiga
The taiga biome
is found in the northern hemisphere close to the polar region. This
cold biome (see climograph) stretches across the northern portions
of North America, Europe, and Asia. Large population centers, such
as Moscow and Toronto, can be found in the southern portion of this
biome, but the northern portion is relatively unpopulated. Photo
© 2000-www.arttoday.com
Within this biome, there
is a wide range of temperatures between winter and summer seasons.
Winters are long and cold, and the summers are short and cool. Precipitation
is moderately high throughout the year with snow occurring during
the winter months.
Most of the taiga in North America was
once covered with glaciers that have receded,
leaving gouges and depressions in the
topography. Since there is moderately
high precipitation, these gouges and depressions
are frequently filled with water, creating
bogs and lakes. The soil found in the
taiga is low in nutrients and high in
acid. It also is rocky and covered with
undecayed leaf litter. Patches of permafrost
can also be found in areas of the taiga.
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