|
Tundra [Finnish, tunturi ], also called "barren land," large region of the Northern Hemisphere lacking trees and possessing abundant rock outcrops. In Canada, the southern boundary extends from the Mackenzie Delta to southern Hudson Bay and NE to Labrador. Many CLIMATE variables combine to determine the position of this boundary.
The tundra environment is characterized by the general presence of PERMAFROST (except beneath some lakes and rivers); short summers with almost continuous daylight; long winters and arctic "nights"; low annual precipitation (hence the name polar desert); strong winds and winter blizzards; discontinuous vegetation; unstable, wet SOIL conditions resulting from permafrost and frost action. Tundra plants have developed many adaptations for survival. Their low stature exploits the more favourable microclimate near the ground; small, leathery, hairy leaves prevent desiccation by evaporation. Perennial life habit, vegetative propagation, short reproductive cycle and effective seed dispersal by wind are common among tundra plants (eg, LICHENS, MOSSES, GRASSES, low shrubs). Many birds and some animals live in the tundra in summer, migrating in autumn (see ARCTIC ANIMALS). Tundra environments present many impediments to human activities. Buildings, pipelines, roads and airports must be so constructed that they can cope with cold climate and permafrost, and proper advance planning must precede resource development and waste disposal to avoid damage to ecosystems. The term "alpine tundra" has been used for areas above the TREELINE in mountains. Although alpine tundra resembles arctic tundra proper in some respects, the differences are both substantial and significant. See also PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS.
 Tundra VegetationTundra vegetation found in the Keewatin area, Churchill, Manitoba (photo by T.K. Tomlinson).
 Arctic TundraTundra in the Southern Arctic Region of the NWT (photo by Tim Fitzharris).
Author
J. TERASMAE
Suggested Reading
J.D. Ives and R.G. Barry, eds, Arctic and Alpine Environments (1974).
Links to Other Sites
Terrestrial Ecozones
Interactive website with maps and detailed descriptions about Canada's ecozones and ecoregions. From the Atlas of Canada.
Treeline advances in Canada's Arctic
About research into factors affecting the transition of boreal forest into tundra ecosystems. A Dalhousie University website.
Pingo Canadian Landmark
The Parks Canada website for the Pingo Canadian Landmark,located on the shore of the Beaufort Sea, 137 kilometers north of the town of Inuvik, Northwest Territories.
The park protects the pingo landforms that rise out of the flat tundra in this region.
Canadian Cryospheric Information Network
An online information source for the Canadian cryospheric community. Click on the headings on the homepage for detailed information about snow cover, lake and sea isce, glaciers, permafrost and more.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Joseph-Elzéar Bernier was Canada's greatest seaman, a man of strong will and extraordinary ingenuity. It is largely due to him that the Canadian flag now flies over the Arctic Archipelago... |
|
| Pierre Elliott Trudeau, politician, writer, constitutional lawyer, prime minister of Canada 1968-79 and 1980-84 (b at ... |
|
|
| Few countries were affected as severely as Canada by the worldwide Depression of the 1930s. It is estimated that ... |
|
|
| Louis Riel, Métis leader, founder of Manitoba, central figure in the NORTH-WEST REBELLION (b at Red River ... |
|
|
| Evangelical Christian Church, often called the Christian Church (Christian Disciples), is a denomination stemming from ... |
|
|
| Few countries were affected as severely as Canada by the worldwide Depression of the 1930s. It is estimated that ... |
|
|
| The Toronto Maple Leafs are a HOCKEY team, was formed in 1927 when Conn SMYTHE purchased and renamed the Toronto St ... |
|
|
| Sears Canada Inc, headquartered in Toronto, is a Canadian retailer incorporated in 1952. In 1953 operating under the ... |
|
|
| John Ware, "Nigger John," horseman, rancher (b near Georgetown, SC 1845; d near Brooks, Alta 11 Sept 1905). ... |
|
|
| Land claims are dealt with by a process established by the federal government to enable INDIANS, INUIT and ... |
|
Browse the rich visual resources of The Canadian Encyclopedia through thematic galleries of Canadian Art, History, Nature, People, and Science and Technology.
Illustrations, lively text, animations, sounds and games help make learning about Canadian history, art, geography, architecture and other topics entertaining as well as informative.
The ultimate test of your knowledge of Canada, trivial and otherwise. You can choose from more than 60 dynamic quizzes with visual or text clues. Your scores depend on the speed with which you answer and the number of clues you need. Results are sent to you by email and high scores are posted on the site.
This unique resource includes more than 6000 events from Canadian and world history. It can be searched by era, subject, keyword or date. To find out what happened on your birthday, select the month and day of your birth.
This selection of the 100 "greatest" events in Canadian history was made by editor in chief James H. Marsh to draw attention to events that have left an indelible memory in the minds of later generations.
| THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MUSIC IN CANADA |
|
| Calgary, Alta. Alberta city founded on or near the site of Fort la Jonquière which was built in 1751 at the junction of the Bow and Elbow rivers and was abandoned after 1785. Fort Brisebois, established there by the ... |
|
|
