When you hear the word tundra, do you know what that means? The region called the tundra is a cold fascinating place. 

Let's learn about the tundra region!

What is the tundra region like?

The tundra region is located in the Arctic, around the North Pole and covers 1/5 of Earth's surface. They have very harsh, cold, long winters and very short, cool summers.

The winter temperatures can fall as low as -60°F.  The summer month temperatures range between 32°F to 50°F. 

The most distinctive feature about the tundra region is the frozen soil called permafrost. 

This region is treeless with very little vegetation.

Very little precipitation occurs in the tundra region, usually less than 10" per year.

Where in the world is the tundra region located?

As you can see on the map below, the tundra lies near the North Pole. However, there are also areas called alpine tundra, located at the top of cold mountains.

• Located in Arctic near the North Pole
  • Alpine tundra is located on tops of cold mountains
• 1/5 of Earth's surface is tundra
• Temperatures range from - 60°F in the winter to 50°F in the summer
• Permafrost (layer of frozen soil) is a distinctive feature
• 10" of annual precipitation or less
• Treeless with little vegetation