The animals and plants that call boreal forests home are adapted for long, frigid winters, short dry summers, and frequent fires. Boreal forests have only a thin top layer of unfrozen soil, so plant inhabitants like spruce and other conifer trees typically have shallow root systems. The slender and conical shape of these trees allows for snow to shed off, and their waxy needles are drought- and frost-resistant. Animals like moose and caribou rely on splayed hooves and long legs to help them traverse the deep snow. Others–such as the snowshoe hare, ptarmigan, and stoat–have coats that change color to better blend in with contrasting summer and winter environments.
In the United States, boreal forests occur primarily in Alaska and in northern states along the Canadian border, but this biome also exists in pockets of high elevation as far south as North Carolina.
There are National Natural Landmarks designated for their boreal ecosystems nationwide that illustrate the beauty and diversity of these ecosystems. Some of these include:
Last updated: July 25, 2024