Alaskan flora. Nature of Alaska: climate, relief, flora and fauna of the region

The nature of Alaska is mysterious and wild, with a harsh climate and polar night.

These are breathtaking mountain and sea landscapes, fertile lands and numerous forests in the south.

Alaska – American state occupies the most large area, compared to other states, but with the lowest population density.

Description of Alaska

The state territory includes nearby islands. St. Lawrence with the Aleutian Islands and the Alexander Archipelago.

Alaska in winter photo

To the east is Canada, across the Bering Strait is Russia. The southern coast of Alaska is washed Pacific Ocean, and the north - the Arctic Ocean.

The size of the territory is 1,717,854 sq. km. The state is 3,639 km wide and 2,285 km long. Residents: 740 thousand people. The capital is Juneau.

Features of Alaska

The state of Alaska has been given exclave status, which means it has no borders with other states. On the islands around the peninsula there are many volcanoes, both dormant and extinct, and active. The mountain ranges form a single volcanic chain called the Pacific Ring of Fire, which experiences earthquakes.

Alaska mountains photo

Alaska’s peculiarities also include the number of lakes – over 3 million. The peninsula is a fishing region, and fishermen from all over the world come here to fish.

Alaska's problems

Environmentalists warn that Alaska's ecological condition is under threat:

• The 2011 Japanese tsunami is still sending trash to Alaska, which is being cleared slowly;
• oil spills and incomplete neutralization of the consequences;
• warming and melting arctic ice;
• violations familiar environment habitats of the animal world;
• increase in fish and seafood production;
• pollution of the hydrosphere and atmosphere by water and land transport.

Alaska Climate

Climate is affected by the size of the territory. On northern territories influences arctic climate with permafrost and summer temperatures here are minus 20-28 degrees. Precipitation – snow, the annual norm is 250 mm, lasts throughout the year. The South is in power humid climate and abundance of precipitation. In summer up to 13 degrees Celsius.

In the Western regions there is fog, dampness and wind. In the interior the climate is dry, warm in summer(plus 28-32 degrees), and severe cold in winter months, minus 50-55.

Relief

The southern coast is separated by the Alaska Ranges, with the highest peak in the United States, 6,194 m, Mount McKinley. The eastern part of the ridge ends with Mount Bona, an extinct volcano covered with a glacier. In the north of the ridges there is a plateau with a height of 600 m (western slopes) and 1200 m eastern mountains, turning into a plain. Further, beyond the Arctic Circle line, there are again ridges (Brooks Range), 950 m long and 2-2.5 km high, giving way to the Arctic Lowland.

Animals of Alaska

Fur-bearing animals in Alaska include:

• American minks;
• wolverines and other mustelids;
• species of foxes;
• wolves;
• grizzly bears;
• hares;
• rodents: muskrats, beavers and others.

bear - fisherman photo

In the mountains, forests and forest-tundra there are ungulates: caribou and elk, and encounters with snow goats and sheep are not uncommon. Musk oxen live on Nunivak, red deer - wapiti - on Afognak, and bison near the Big Delta. There are many feathered inhabitants - relatives of Siberian birds.

On the coasts of the islands there are walrus rookeries, as well as fur seals, whose fur is valued. Come into view sea ​​lions with seals and whales.

Plants

In the coastal regions of the Northwest and around Prince William Sound, dense coniferous forests. In the center of Alaska there are white spruce, birch and poplar trees. In the north there is taiga, swamps, willow thickets and low-growing spruce trees.

delicate flowers of harsh Alaska photo

Further - arctic tundra with dwarf birches and willows, an abundance of moss, lichens and marsh vegetation. In summer, many flowers bloom, and closer to autumn, blueberries, blueberries, cloudberries, and cotton grass ripen.

Lakes and rivers of Alaska

Alaska – Lake District, there are 3 million reservoirs of this type, with a predominance in the northern part of the state. Scientists have noticed that the surface of reservoirs increases by 5 m annually and takes on an ovoid shape, with a narrow part towards the north, indicating the flow to the ocean.

Lake Yukon photo

The increase in lakes, as researchers explain, is associated with the gradual thawing of permafrost. There are 12,000 rivers flowing through Alaska. Rating of the most long rivers state:

Yukon, 3000 km.

• Kuskokwim, 1130 km.
• Tanana, 855 km.
• Koyukuk, 805 km.
• Colville, 600 km.

Alaska Nature Reserves

• The state's Alaska Peninsula is famous national reserve- The Gates of the Arctic, where it is carefully guarded wild nature.
• From the Southeast - Wrangel and St. Elias (Rangel and St. Elias).
• Katmai is in southern Alaska. It borders with Bocharova Park in the southwest. There are many volcanoes here.
• Misty fjords. In spring, bird markets gather here. The length of the “Misty Fjords” is 64 km along the southeastern coast, area 9500 sq. km.
• Glacier Bay - glaciers (9), forests and mountains, lakes, icebergs.

In addition to these reserves, there are many other parks and reserves in Alaska.

Sights of Alaska

In the picturesque and sunny, quaint and artsy town of Haines, November of every year is dedicated to the Bald Eagle Festival. The Aleutian Range is famous for the active volcano Katmai, 2047 m high and 10 km in diameter with a muddy green lake in the crater and an island in the middle.

Katmai volcano photo

The city of Sitka is notable for its St. Michael's Cathedral, built in 1848. This is a monument to the Russian people who were in Alaska.

1912 was marked by a strong eruption of the Katmai volcano, the roar of which was heard 1200 km away, and the earthquake was felt 200 km away.

• "Alaska", from the Aleut language, is translated as "a place where there are many whales."
• Alaska, 20,000 years ago, was inhabited by Athabaskans, Aleuts, and Inuit who came from the Bering Strait. As well as the local Tlingit and Haida people.
• In 1867, William Seward bought Alaska from cash-strapped Russia after the war with the French for $7.2 million. Russian empire lost profitable loot natural resources Alaska.

Results

The nature of Alaska is an amazing and beautiful place on the planet. Tourists come here to admire the untouched pristine nature and see local attractions.

Mysterious Peninsula - Alaska...

During the reign of Alexander II, ... March 30, 1867, a deal for the sale of land was legally formalized, for which America paid Russia with a check, which is still kept.

What is the climate in Alaska and is this wild region suitable for recreation? If you are looking for natural beauty and tranquility, then a trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world is what you need.

Despite the different climatic zones- from permafrost, to relatively high temperatures, summers in Alaska are warm and green, winters are also quite comfortable. Permafrost is an unusual phenomenon for us. But nothing can compare with such a miracle of nature as glaciers with their icy power. The largest glacier is Hubbard.

It’s breathtaking when carved monuments of giants float in close proximity. snowy mountains. In warm weather, the glacier melts, pieces of ice break off and fall into the water with a roar. A stunning sight that is eagerly sought after by photographers from amateurs to professionals.

In addition to the climate in Alaska, it is worth noting it natural features. Intricate fjords, forested mountains, formidable volcanoes, glacial lakes, a land rich in fur-bearing animals and gold and the purest subarctic air - all this Business Cards Alaska Peninsula.

America's largest state is rich in water resources and has about 3 million lakes, 3 thousand rivers and streams, as well as 100 thousand glaciers. Swamps cover about 490,000 square kilometers. There are a lot of volcanoes, both extinct and active. Volcanoes are interesting and almost not dangerous.

The state of Alaska is a multi-purpose destination for tourists, where extreme sports enthusiasts will choose their hobby, and there will be attractions for aesthetes. Lovers rich nature They definitely won’t get bored, because here it is especially diverse.

A large number of travelers who prefer sea ​​cruises, seeks to get to the Alaska Peninsula in summer time when you can have great fishing or hunting. Travelers have access to picturesque fjords, gorges and waterfalls. If you're lucky, you might see mountain goats. Real wild bears often roam along the shore. Alaska is a land for daredevils.

Sheep Creek has a special platform for those who want to watch the salmon spawn. Alaska has the largest colony of kittiwakes. The rocks, like Easter cakes sprinkled with sesame seeds, are covered with these graceful birds. Sea kayaks are available for extreme excursions in bays and reservoirs. On them, craftsmen can easily overcome even large waves.

It is not uncommon to see sea lion seals. From time to time, their huge muzzles appear on the surface of the water here and there. Sometimes humpback whales or killer whales allow themselves to be discovered. Undoubtedly, wonderful shots for photo hunters.

Those who are not afraid of winter Alaska will find themselves at the largest festival in the state of Alaska with dog sleds. And what Russian doesn’t like driving fast? Riding on this type of transport is very popular among tourists.

It's definitely worth checking out The largest city in Alaska - Anchorage. Half of the state's total population lives here. It is a transport, tourist and shopping center.

Alaska's pride - national park Denali. Wolves, bears, moose, coyotes, lynxes and many other animals live in the wild in the reserve. On deer farms allowed to feed from the hands of these traditional inhabitants of the peninsula.

The exhibitions of numerous museums in the cities of Alaska tell about the history, culture, flora and fauna of the largest US state.

Often the starting point for a cruise around the Alaska Peninsula is the port city of Whittier. Then climbing to one of the mountain peaks by high-speed funicular is simply necessary. From a bird's eye view, amazingly beautiful landscapes open up.

For the hardiest travelers who dare to go on a cruise in winter, the reward will be a real light show - the colorful northern lights. Blue-green tints will give way to scarlet and pink. The dance of light and color is a stunning spectacle, for which it is worth taking an adventurous route to distant lands full of dangers.

A pleasant aesthetic addition to the spectacular lighting effect is a visit to the China Hot Spring Ice Museum. It is unusual when an alcoholic cocktail is served in an ice glass and the glass remains as a souvenir for the guest of the ice bar. The most fragile and short-lived souvenir that you can have. After so many pleasures, it is good to relax, immersed in healing water one of the hot springs in Fairbanks.

Most tourists, going on a cruise to Alaska and discovering this unexplored region for the first time, return more than once...

The rugged coastline of Alaska, the largest state in the United States, is home to some of the most incredible wildlife. North America. For that short period, when winter recedes, all living beings need time to prepare supplies, raise offspring and enjoy sun rays until the cold weather sets in again.

This remarkable series of photographs was taken by British nature photographer Tim Plowden, who came to these rugged lands to capture this mysterious world Alaskan Wildlife.

Tim Plowden, who grew up enjoying the beauty of the Chiltern Hills, has already visited many parts of our planet. For example, in Norfolk Island National Park, in Australia, I traveled all over South America and the USA, but it big dream there was always Alaska.

And now his dream came true. He discovered new world, full of mysteries, trials and endless beauty. He visited remote coasts, climbed high into the mountains, made his way across the tundra in search of the most impressive moments.

“The fauna of the forest areas and tundra of Alaska is incredibly diverse,” notes the Englishman. – There are about 20 species of fur-bearing animals alone, most of which are predators. Here you can find the famous wolverine, American mink and other mustelids.

— In the forest and mountain regions of Alaska, as well as in the forest-tundra, you can find different kinds ungulates, such as caribou - North American deer. It wasn’t difficult for me to photograph the caribou, as I have a lot of experience photographing the deer that live here in Britain,” says the photographer.

- I just had to find a nice place and choose the right time to get a beautiful photo. So I can say that my experience and knowledge acquired earlier were definitely useful to me when working in Alaska.

— I would like to note that the wildlife of Alaska is incredibly beautiful! And I’m happy that I was able to touch its beauties and secrets,” Tim Plowden shared his impressions.

• Go to: America

Wildlife of Alaska

The two continents of Eurasia and America come very close here, and the Bering Strait is of relatively recent (in a geological sense) origin, and in its place there was the Bering Land Bridge. That is why the fauna of Alaska has much in common with the fauna of Siberia, and northern Eurasia as a whole.

Quite varied and characteristic animal world tundra and forest areas of Alaska. There are only about 20 species of different fur-bearing animals here. Among them there are mainly representatives of the order of carnivores (American mink, wolverine and other mustelids, several varieties of foxes, wolves, bears), hares and rodents (muskrat, beaver, etc.). The number increased especially large predators(wolves, coyotes, bears, wolverines) during the Second World War, when they became a real scourge of Alaska due to the fact that they multiplied in huge numbers as a result of the fact that large herds of domesticated reindeer were essentially abandoned to their fate.

In a number of mountain and forest areas of Alaska, as well as in the forest-tundra, various species of wild ungulates live, such as caribou (American reindeer), moose, bighorn goat and bighorn sheep. Musk oxen, completely destroyed in Alaska by the Americans, now exist in numbers of about 100 on the island of Nunivak, where they were brought from Greenland. On Afognak Island, the American wapiti, brought from Oregon (USA), has been acclimatized, and in the Big Delta region (southeast of Fairbanks) there is a small herd of bison.

Birds are exceptionally richly represented in Alaska, among which there are many species related to Siberian ones (three-toed woodpecker, hazel grouse, ptarmigan, Alaskan goose, etc.), but there are also specific American species, such as the fire hummingbird.

Life is in full swing not only on land, but also in the seas and oceans washing the shores of Alaska. Various species are widespread off the coast of Alaska sea ​​beast. These include, first of all, seals with precious fur that spend time in the rookeries of the Pribilof Islands from May to August; walruses, common on the Arctic coast and the Bering Sea coast; sea ​​lions, seals and several species of whales. Many species of animals, especially mammals, living in Alaska are of great commercial importance.

The fish canning industry, as the main industry in Alaska, is based on fishing various breeds salmon fish which are of particular value. In the waters of Alaska, in addition to salmon fish, there are such valuable fish like cod, herring, halibut, and along the Pacific coast in large quantities There are various types of crustaceans (crabs, shrimps), as well as cephalopods and other mollusks. IN summer months The air in the interior of Alaska is literally infested with midges that even a mosquito net cannot save a person from them.

I involuntarily associate visiting Alaska with wild animals. We, citizens of Russia, raised in the Soviet Union by Yuri Senkevich with the “Travel Club” and “The World of Animals” by Vitaly Peskov and Nikolai Drozdov, have seen these animals many times, although it was a long time ago and, unfortunately, through a TV screen with a far from flat low-resolution screen! I also wanted to note here my attitude towards zoos. After visiting the Moscow Zoo, my heart bleeds: I can’t look at the poor suffering wild animals in captivity! Of course, there are better zoos, for example in Miami. But still – bondage! Well, that’s why we really wanted to see wild animals in Alaska, and what do they have to do with them? natural environment. And Alaska is 100% ready for such a formulation of the question! A whole bunch of all kinds of tours are offered by car, bus, plane, boat and ship. We took the Kantishna Experience tour. 12 hours round trip on 90 miles of dirt road. And this is what came of it...

The first to meet us right on the road was a caribou or reindeer. He was simply walking along the road in the oncoming lane about his deer business. To be honest, I thought that all the animals would then take turns along this road.

Caribou grazing in a clearing

Mountain goats were grazing very far away

And here main character national park Denali: Grizzly!

His shoulders, neck and belly are covered with dark brown hair, lighter at the ends, which gives his fur a grayish tint; hence the name - grizzly means “gray, gray-haired”.

The lifestyle of a grizzly bear is typical Brown bear- flows into hibernation and eats mainly plant foods. Only in early youth can a grizzly bear climb trees until his claws (which grow the largest of all bears) get in the way, but later he can easily swim across wide rivers. Skillfully catches fish. Grizzlies also love to destroy beehives and eat honey.

And here is the whole family.

The grizzly bear is one of the largest and most ferocious North American predators. The scientific name for this subspecies, horribilis, translates to “terrible, terrible.” In the old days, they liked to describe the grizzly as a terrible and ferocious animal; they said that he is not afraid of a person - on the contrary, he goes straight at him, whether he is on horseback or on foot, armed or unarmed. The grizzly bear population has declined greatly in late XIX- the beginning of the 20th century, when farmers began to shoot them en masse in order to protect livestock from attacks.

Just a bird

Partridges were hiding in the bushes along the road

Two moose (female and male) stand in Wonder Lake with McKinley in the background

The diet of moose includes aquatic and semi-aquatic plants. They probably found them in the shallow waters of this lake.

These are the wild animals we saw in the national park. The distance to the bears was more than 300 meters, to the moose - more than a hundred. At the zoo you can see them very close, but here they are at home. This is the whole point of visiting a national park. To be honest, focal length 400 mm is simply nothing for shooting these beauties. I wonder what happened to those who shot at a shorter distance on automatic with a constantly pop-up flash?