In the Shadow of the Bear

Travel Guide

The Alaskan Tundra

Almost half of Alaska’s land is tundra – land where no large trees can grow.

There are two types of tundra –

Alpine : The land above this tree line on a mountainside forms alpine tundra or high-altitude tundra.

Arctic: The other main tundra type is arctic tundra.

There might not be trees in the tundra but there are billions of bugs and plants. All kinds of plants thrive in the tundra habitat.  Some plants here are dwarf versions of larger plants found in other parts of the state. They grow low to the ground to avoid the near constant winds that roar across the treeless tundra.

Tundra is difficult, harsh land to walk on as because the moisture doesn’t drain into the frozen ground, it’s often wet and bog like . The plants grow in mounds. So you either slog though the bog around the plants or try to walk across the tops of the plants.

Funniy enough, it’s easier to navigate the land in the winter – as the snow and ice provide a layer of protection for the fragile land.