Northeast Siberian Taiga

This forest is vast, spanning over 20 degrees of latitude and 50 degrees of longitude. It represents one of the most extensive natural forests left in the world (approximately 3,899,700 square kilometers - about thrice the size of Alaska). The dominant forest is light coniferous taiga with Larix gmelini forming the canopy particularly in areas with low snow cover. This formation occupies more area than any other forest formation in Russia. Towards the west, two other species of larch occur: Larix sibirica and hybrid L. x czekanowskii. A darker coniferous taiga is distributed in mosaic-like patterns in the more-protected positions of landscape, with Abies sibirica, Picea obovata and Pinus sibirica dominating. Toward the south, the proportion of pine-larch and pine forests increases, and small leaf forests with Betula and Populus begin to appear. The flora and fauna of eastern Siberian taiga is significantly richer than western Siberian taiga.

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References

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Knystautas, A. 1987. The Natural History of the USSR. Century Hutchinson Ltd.

Malyshev, L. I., Balkov, K. S. & Doronkin, V. M. 1999. Spatial diversity of the Siberian flora. Flora, 194: 357-368.

Mirkin, B. M. & Shelyag-Sosonko, Yu. R. 1984. Classification of meadow vegetation in the USSR. Vegetatio, 56: 167-176.

Paetzold, H. 1989. Shrublands of the USSR in Asia. In: The Biology and Utilization of Shrubs. Ed. C. M. McKell. Academic Press, Inc.