 
Tundra is found in the arctic areas of the Earth, primarily around the Arctic Circle. Because of the high latitude, there is no sunlight in winter, while summer sees 24 hours of daylight. Ice and snow cover the ground for much of the year.The ground below a few feet is permanently frozen ('permafrost'). There is very little precipitation over the course of a year (less than 20 cm of snow); as a result, there are fewer varieties of plants and animals than in other biomes. Plants grow quickly in the short summers, and are usually low to the ground. Small animals protect themselves from the cold by burrowing underground; larger ones have thick coats of fur.   Plants that can be found in tundra regions include small woody shrubs, lichens and mosses. In addition to a variety of insects, animal life includes the arctic fox, caribou, reindeer, musk ox, wolves, polar bears, and in summer, migratory birds. |