Tundra

Tundra, plains of the Arctic Circle. For most of the year the temperature is less than 32°F (0°C), and even during the short summer it never rises above 50°F (10°C). The soil is a thin coating over permafrost. Tundra vegetation includes lichens, mosses, and stunted shrubs. Similar regions on high mountains (but generally without permafrost) are called alpine tundra.

See also: Permafrost.