Boreal Forest/Taiga of Northern Canada
Climate in the taiga is cold, with average annual temperatures from about +5° to -5° C. Precipitation varies, from about 20 cm of precipitation per year to over 200 cm. Much of the precipitation, is in the form of snow. The winters are cold and long while summers are relatively short and cool. With snowmelt and low temperatures, there is little evaporation in the summer, so the ground is usually very moist during the growing season. Yet the growing season is short, usually less than 3 months. Many plant species are found in the Taiga, but coniferous trees are obviously the dominant plant form. These trees shed snow easily, and they retain their needles through the winter. Important conifer types include firs and pines (right, with the fir on the left of the image and the pine on the right), spruces, hemlocks, and larches. Numerous animal species are found in coniferous forests. Several are arrayed here; others are shown with the tour section below. Among the main carnivores of the boreal forest are a number of cats and dogs like animals. The cats range in size from the Siberian Tiger, down through the lynx to the bobcat. Herbivores range in size from the large members of the deer family such as the Elk to insects.
May 18th 1952
I have been born and raised on a small ranch in Northern Canada in the middle of the boreal first just as my grandfather and his grandfather had. My wife and I reside in a small wooden log cabin on our ranch that has been passed down for generations. We have thick walls and large furnace to keep us warm, along with the blankets my wife is constantly quilting in her free time. This boreal region that we call home contains about 14% of Canada’s population all spread out. With its sheer vastness and forest cover, this boreal makes an important contribution to the rural and aboriginal economies of Canada, primarily through resource industries, recreation, hunting, fishing and eco-tourism. Hundreds of cities and towns within us depend on activity from the forest for their economic benefit, mainly from industries like forest products, mining, oil and gas and tourism. The boreal forest also plays an iconic role in Canada’s history, economic and social development and the arts. I love where I live and would never want to move, even though the winters are brutal and we are typically snowed in. I can usually make it to the grocery store about 30 miles away if we really need anything bt I prefer to fish in the river of snow runoff nearby, set traps and hunt for small fox, rabbits, and squirrels, and milk our cows daily for the goods that we need. I am currently teaching my son to use a shotgun so that he may come out and help me hunt for deer and the typical moose. When I'm not helping chop wood for the fire, hunting, fishing, or doing other chores around the ranch I am cuddled up wit my family trying to stay warm, training my bird dog, reading or playing chess. Life in this large forest isn't always easy or ideal but i wouldn't want to have it any other way. We do have running warm water and electricity in our cabin home but no television or radio. We stick out the snowy winters and typically get a little bit of cabin fever towards the end of the season, but by summer we are able to drive into town and sell/ buy goods.