So what is a boreal forest? This question is often asked by people when they first encounter this concept in the media and the Internet. From English boreal is translated as "northern".
Therefore, the generally accepted wording is: a boreal forest is a forest area located north of 60˚ north latitude and south of 60˚ south latitude. It is estimated that such forests cover an area of 1.2 billion hectares. This represents 30% of the Earth's total forest resource.
Geography of boreal forests
About 70% of these forests are located in Russia. It is followed by Alaska and Canada, as well as European countries, the main share of which is Finland, Norway, Sweden. You need to know that boreal forests are 17% of all carbon stocks on Earth. In Russia they are called taiga. Mostly coniferous trees grow here: pines, spruces, firs. But there are also larches in drier places.
The reason for such a massive distribution of this type of rock is associated with the climatic conditions of these regions of the Earth. It's cold here in winter. The temperature can drop to -54˚С. And the summer is cool. This causes the precipitation to leavefor a long time the soil is damp, which creates favorable conditions for the habitat of moisture-loving plants. Yes, and the coniferous trees themselves help the accumulation of water in the ground. Fallen needles are the best insulator against moisture evaporation. As a rule, human activity in such forests is minimized. Boreal forests often become protected areas. Due to the fact that they are huge reserves of timber, the question arises about the rational consumption of this resource.
Boreal forest animals
Boreal coniferous forests create living conditions for a large number of animals. Among them are deer, elk, brown bears, northern owls, wolverines, hares, etc. Rare fauna:
- Amur tiger. According to some reports, the population of these predators is about 3,000 individuals. Therefore, they are listed in the Red Book. The main diet of this wild cat is made up of deer, wild boars, red deer. A tiger consumes about 10 kg of meat per day. Also, its menu includes fish, because. he is an excellent swimmer. The habitat of the Amur tiger extends from the border of Russia with China to the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.
- Grouse - a bird that lives in the boreal coniferous forests of the taiga - is a member of the grouse family. Its size is not more than 50 cm. It mainly feeds on plant foods, but can also eat pine needles as food. Due to its calm disposition, it becomes an easy prey for hunters and predators. Also listed in the Red Book.
Boreal forest flora
Boreal forests are a treasure trovevegetation. Spruce is the main representative of such forests. Due to its unpretentiousness, it can grow both as a separate array in a coniferous thicket, and in a mixed forest, together with deciduous trees. The pine is the "queen" of the coniferous forest. Pine trees can be 500 or more years old. The height of such a long-liver reaches 80 meters, and the diameter of the trunk can be 4 meters. Fir is less common and differs from spruce in softer needles and a less odorous smell.
Siberian cedar has become another famous representative of the coniferous forest. Its nuts are highly valued due to the presence of a large amount of nutrients and medicinal elements. Each cone can contain up to 150 nuts.
Larch is considered the most frost-resistant tree on the planet. It can withstand ambient temperatures down to -70˚C. If we talk about the hardwoods of the boreal forest, then the first place, of course, is occupied by birch. It is distributed almost everywhere, up to the Arctic Circle. Aspen is related to poplar. And also very common. Its young growth is a delicacy for hares, elks and deer. Alder green is a member of the birch family. In the north, it can be a small shrub, and in the south - a tree 6 m high. Linden, mountain ash and juniper are much less common in the boreal forest.
Conclusion
The boreal forest is the most valuable gift of nature to all the inhabitants of the Earth. And on how a person wisely disposes of this value, his future fate largely depends.
After all, the forest is not only wood, but also the lungs of the planet. Tons of carbon dioxide are converted into oxygen during photosynthesis. People should always remember this when chopping or cutting down another tree in the forest.
