What is a good place in the Taiga biome to
travel to? (By: Sara and Katlin, and all pic.
are at the bottom of the page)
1. A good place in the taiga biome to travel to is the state of Alaska.
Alaska Geography, and landmarks (By:
Katlin)
1. With 586,412 square miles, or about 365,000,000 acres, Alaska is the largest state union.
2. Alaska has 33,904 miles of shoreline. Also, the predicted tidal shoreline, including islands, is 47,300 miles.
3. The oceans adjacent to Alaska are the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sear, Chuckchi Sea, and Arctic Ocean.
4. The northernmost point of Alaska is Point Barrow, 71° 23' 25" north latitude, 156° 28' 30", west longitude.
5. The southernmost point is the tip of Amatignak Island, Aleutian Chain, 51° 15' 44" north latitude, 179° 06' 31" west longitude.
6. The westernmost and easternmost points depend on whether you look at it from the global geographic perspective (considering the longitudinal meridians), or just west=left, east=right.
7. The tallest mountain in Alaska is Mount McKinley. It is 20,320 feet, being the tallest mountain in North America.
8. Alaska has 39 mountain ranges containing 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States.
9. The Alaska-Canada border is 1,538 miles long.
10. The length boundary between the Arctic Ocean and Mount St. Elias is 647 miles, the southeast border with British Columbia and Yukon Territory is 710 miles, and the water boundary is 181 miles.
11. The largest city in the population is Anchorage; its population is 250,006.
12. The state capital is Juneau.
13. The largest glacier is the Bering Glacier.
14. It is 2,250 square miles, and it includes the Bagley Ice field.
15. Ice fields cover about 5 percent of Alaska, or 29,000 square miles.
16. A landmark of Alaska is the Kobuk Valley National Park.
17. It was established on December 2, 1980, and is in Northwest Arctic, Alaska.
18. The Kobuk Valley National Park has beautiful views you and your family can enjoy together!!
19. **Take a look of the pictures that are related to the geography!!
Activities in Alaska (By: Katlin):
1. In Alaska, there are a lot of activities you can do and go see.
2. Here are some of the activities you DO NOT want to miss:
3. There are Northern Lights viewings that you and your family can enjoy!
4. The most reliable spot to go to see the Northern Lights is Fairbanks, Alaska.
5. Auroras are seen most frequently there.
6. Another activity in Alaska is dog sledding.
7. Dog sledding is an Alaskan tradition, and a state obsession!!!!!!
8. Two of the most common spots to go dog sledding are: Anchorage and Fairbanks.
9. In Anchorage, Salmon Berry Tours offers a genuine winter excursion.
10. In Fairbanks, there are a lot of winter tours and dog sledding schools.
11. A third activity is guided hiking.
12. It is much better to go guided hiking because the experts know the best spots to go on your hike to make wonderful memories.
13. I would suggest going to Kenai Backcountry Lodge, in which you will hike through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
14. A fourth activity is rafting tours.
15. This trip really helps you to connect with the nature in Alaska.
16. Also, it is remote, easy, historic, and cheap.
17. There are two ways you can go rafting: whitewater rafting or scenic floats.
18. The difference is: when you are whitewater rafting, you're in the middle of the rapid whitewaters, holding on tight as water splashes all around you. It is like a roller coaster; you are speeding down forceful tides! Despite the fact that you are white-knuckled, you are having the time of your life.
19. In contrast, when you are on a scenic float, you will relax on a gentle float through a silent stretch of pristine Alaska wilderness.
20. A fifth activity is going to Alaska museums and cultural centers.
21. A wonderful cultural center you should go to is Anchorage Museum at Rasumon Center.
22. It is obviously in Anchorage, Alaska.
23. This center has exhibits of Native and state history.
24. In addition, there is a lot of creative art work that will really inspire you!
25. If you would like to learn more about attractions and activities in Alaska, look at these websites:
Alaska Wildlife (By: Katlin):
1. There is a big variety of animals living in Alaska.
2. Depending on where you visit, you will see a lot of mammals, birds, and marine life.
3. As you may have read in the page Animals and Plants, those example animals live in the taiga in general.
4. But now, I am going to tell you about animals that live in Alaska specifically.
5. First, I will tell you about the American black bear.
6. This bear is usually black but can have phases of brown, cinnamon, beige and even a bluish-white.
7. They have round ears, a short tail, and short claws that are helpful in climbing trees.
8. The American black bear weighs 220-594 pounds. Surprisingly, even with so much body weight this bear can run up to 25 miles per hour. 9. They are native to North America.
10. The female and male American black bear usually have 2-3 young. “Their mating season is in the summer and they will give birth to their young in January or February. The cubs are blind at birth and weigh 8_ounces to 11_ ounces. The males do not help raise the cubs, but leave to mate again like most other bear species. The Mother bear can be quite territorial if it involves her cubs. For example, if any animal gets between she and her cubs, she will relentlessly attack it until it is dead” (www.blueplanetbiomes.org).
11. The average American black bear lives up to 25 years!
12. The black bear is a predator and an omnivore.
13. Second, I will tell you about the snowshoe rabbit.
14. The snowshoe rabbit lives in forest areas where the ground is covered undergrowth in the upper parts of North America.
15. This mammal migrates throughout the midwest United States.
16. In the summer its fur is a rusty, grayish brown but in winter it turns pure white. This helps it to hide from its predators.
17. Their feet have fur on the bottom, which protects them from the cold and gives them traction in the snow.
18. “The Snowshoe Rabbit can run up to 27 mph and jump 10 in one hop. It is an expert at escaping predators like the wolf, bobcat, or lynx. When a predator chases it, the rabbit will quickly change direction. They are also good swimmers and will jump in the water to make an escape” (www.blueplanetbiomes.org).
19. They have 3-4 litters a year with 1-8 in each litter.
20. The snowshoe rabbit is larger than other rabbits and weighs around three to four pounds as an adult.
21. The snowshoe rabbit is a herbivore that eats grass, clover and other greens in the summer. But in the winter, it eats bark, twigs and buds.
22. Third, I will tell you about the Bald Eagle.
23. As you might already know, the Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States.
24. The Bald Eagle is found over most of North America, and eighty percent of them live in Alaska.
25. These birds build several kinds of nests that can be in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground. They change the shape of their nests to fit in different trees.
26. The Bald Eagle is considered a sea eagle with a white head. Also, it has a curved beak that is very strong.
27. It is big and strong and weighs eight to twelve pounds.
28. A Bald Eagle’s wingspan can be two meters (seven feet), and they can be larger than a meter from head to tail!
29. It’s toes have talons which really do give them benefits such as being able to grip things stronger.
30. They have clear, excellent vision which helps them to hunt for prey. They see about seven times better than people can!
31. 1,000 feet up in the air, a Bald Eagle can spot its prey over 3 square miles. These creatures are able to do this because they can see both forward and sideways at the same time.
32. They have binocular vision where both eyes focus forward on a single item. This permits very accurate depth perception.
33. Each eye can also see out the side. This is monocular vision and is very good at detecting motion.
34. Did you know that the bald eagle has between 7,000 and 7,200 feathers?
35. The Bald Eagle eats dead animals, but sometimes will eat live chickens and fish. They hunt in pairs and will steal food from other eagles.
36. Fourth, I will tell you about the red fox.
37. The red fox has a rusty-red fur, a white-tipped bushy tail, black legs, black ears, and a black nose.
38. It ranges from northern America, Canada, Alaska, and northern Europe across to the Pacific Ocean.
39. The red fox can grow up to 2 1/2 feet long, and 15 to 16 inches tall at the shoulders.
40. It weighs 10 to 12 pounds.
41. The red fox is wise, elegant, and a nocturnal creature.
42. It adapts well to different habitats. It usually travels and hunts alone. The red fox is a carnivore, so it eats small animals like rabbits.
43. The female has from 4 to 10 pups early in the spring, and the male will stay around and feed the female while she nurses the pups.
44. Fifth, I will tell you about the wolverine.
45. It ranges from western United States, through Canada, up to Alaska!
46. The wolverine looks sort of like a bear, except with short legs and is the largest member of the weasel family.
47. Its fur is thick and a glossy dark brown, and its head is wide and kind of rounded, with round ears.
48. The wolverine is powerfully built and is well adapted to living in the freezing temperatures.
49. It’s body length can get up 87 centimeters as an adult and can weigh about 45 pounds.
50. Wolverines has a very good sense of smell, which helps it locate food.
51. It is a carnivore, so it usually feeds on rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, and carrion.
52. The wolverine is a timid mammal that tries to avoid contact with humans. Human settlements have decreased the wolverine populations in North America.
Plants in Alaska (By: Sara):
Northern Yarrow:
. It produces one to several stems 6"-3' tall.
. It generally has 3 to 8 ray flowers that are oval to round.
. It also disk flowers that grown in groups of 15 to 40.
. It's a frequent component in butterfly gardens.
Forget-me-not:
. It is Alaska's state flower.
Alaska climate, and what you should wear
(By: Sara)
Climate:
Month Hi (F°) Low (F°) Daylight Hours Sunset Rainy Days Clear Days
May 54 39 17 hours 10:42 pm 7 days 11 days
June 62 47 19 hours 11:40 pm 8 days 10 days
July 65 51 18 hours 11:17 pm 12 days 9 days
August 63 48 15.5 hours 9:57 pm 14 days 9 days
September 55 41 12.5 hours 8:20 pm 14 days 10 days
Clothing:
. The Inner Layer: Long underwear.
. The insulating Layer: Fleece jacket or sweater.
.The Outer Layer: Anything water proof.
Alaska Geography, and landmarks (By:
Katlin)
1. With 586,412 square miles, or about 365,000,000 acres, Alaska is the largest state union.
2. Alaska has 33,904 miles of shoreline. Also, the predicted tidal shoreline, including islands, is 47,300 miles.
3. The oceans adjacent to Alaska are the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sear, Chuckchi Sea, and Arctic Ocean.
4. The northernmost point of Alaska is Point Barrow, 71° 23' 25" north latitude, 156° 28' 30", west longitude.
5. The southernmost point is the tip of Amatignak Island, Aleutian Chain, 51° 15' 44" north latitude, 179° 06' 31" west longitude.
6. The westernmost and easternmost points depend on whether you look at it from the global geographic perspective (considering the longitudinal meridians), or just west=left, east=right.
7. The tallest mountain in Alaska is Mount McKinley. It is 20,320 feet, being the tallest mountain in North America.
8. Alaska has 39 mountain ranges containing 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States.
9. The Alaska-Canada border is 1,538 miles long.
10. The length boundary between the Arctic Ocean and Mount St. Elias is 647 miles, the southeast border with British Columbia and Yukon Territory is 710 miles, and the water boundary is 181 miles.
11. The largest city in the population is Anchorage; its population is 250,006.
12. The state capital is Juneau.
13. The largest glacier is the Bering Glacier.
14. It is 2,250 square miles, and it includes the Bagley Ice field.
15. Ice fields cover about 5 percent of Alaska, or 29,000 square miles.
16. A landmark of Alaska is the Kobuk Valley National Park.
17. It was established on December 2, 1980, and is in Northwest Arctic, Alaska.
18. The Kobuk Valley National Park has beautiful views you and your family can enjoy together!!
19. **Take a look of the pictures that are related to the geography!!
Activities in Alaska (By: Katlin):
1. In Alaska, there are a lot of activities you can do and go see.
2. Here are some of the activities you DO NOT want to miss:
3. There are Northern Lights viewings that you and your family can enjoy!
4. The most reliable spot to go to see the Northern Lights is Fairbanks, Alaska.
5. Auroras are seen most frequently there.
6. Another activity in Alaska is dog sledding.
7. Dog sledding is an Alaskan tradition, and a state obsession!!!!!!
8. Two of the most common spots to go dog sledding are: Anchorage and Fairbanks.
9. In Anchorage, Salmon Berry Tours offers a genuine winter excursion.
10. In Fairbanks, there are a lot of winter tours and dog sledding schools.
11. A third activity is guided hiking.
12. It is much better to go guided hiking because the experts know the best spots to go on your hike to make wonderful memories.
13. I would suggest going to Kenai Backcountry Lodge, in which you will hike through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
14. A fourth activity is rafting tours.
15. This trip really helps you to connect with the nature in Alaska.
16. Also, it is remote, easy, historic, and cheap.
17. There are two ways you can go rafting: whitewater rafting or scenic floats.
18. The difference is: when you are whitewater rafting, you're in the middle of the rapid whitewaters, holding on tight as water splashes all around you. It is like a roller coaster; you are speeding down forceful tides! Despite the fact that you are white-knuckled, you are having the time of your life.
19. In contrast, when you are on a scenic float, you will relax on a gentle float through a silent stretch of pristine Alaska wilderness.
20. A fifth activity is going to Alaska museums and cultural centers.
21. A wonderful cultural center you should go to is Anchorage Museum at Rasumon Center.
22. It is obviously in Anchorage, Alaska.
23. This center has exhibits of Native and state history.
24. In addition, there is a lot of creative art work that will really inspire you!
25. If you would like to learn more about attractions and activities in Alaska, look at these websites:
- http://www.alaska.org/things-to-do/day-tours
- http://www.travelalaska.com/Things%20To%20Do/Backcountry%20Hiking.aspxv
Alaska Wildlife (By: Katlin):
1. There is a big variety of animals living in Alaska.
2. Depending on where you visit, you will see a lot of mammals, birds, and marine life.
3. As you may have read in the page Animals and Plants, those example animals live in the taiga in general.
4. But now, I am going to tell you about animals that live in Alaska specifically.
5. First, I will tell you about the American black bear.
6. This bear is usually black but can have phases of brown, cinnamon, beige and even a bluish-white.
7. They have round ears, a short tail, and short claws that are helpful in climbing trees.
8. The American black bear weighs 220-594 pounds. Surprisingly, even with so much body weight this bear can run up to 25 miles per hour. 9. They are native to North America.
10. The female and male American black bear usually have 2-3 young. “Their mating season is in the summer and they will give birth to their young in January or February. The cubs are blind at birth and weigh 8_ounces to 11_ ounces. The males do not help raise the cubs, but leave to mate again like most other bear species. The Mother bear can be quite territorial if it involves her cubs. For example, if any animal gets between she and her cubs, she will relentlessly attack it until it is dead” (www.blueplanetbiomes.org).
11. The average American black bear lives up to 25 years!
12. The black bear is a predator and an omnivore.
13. Second, I will tell you about the snowshoe rabbit.
14. The snowshoe rabbit lives in forest areas where the ground is covered undergrowth in the upper parts of North America.
15. This mammal migrates throughout the midwest United States.
16. In the summer its fur is a rusty, grayish brown but in winter it turns pure white. This helps it to hide from its predators.
17. Their feet have fur on the bottom, which protects them from the cold and gives them traction in the snow.
18. “The Snowshoe Rabbit can run up to 27 mph and jump 10 in one hop. It is an expert at escaping predators like the wolf, bobcat, or lynx. When a predator chases it, the rabbit will quickly change direction. They are also good swimmers and will jump in the water to make an escape” (www.blueplanetbiomes.org).
19. They have 3-4 litters a year with 1-8 in each litter.
20. The snowshoe rabbit is larger than other rabbits and weighs around three to four pounds as an adult.
21. The snowshoe rabbit is a herbivore that eats grass, clover and other greens in the summer. But in the winter, it eats bark, twigs and buds.
22. Third, I will tell you about the Bald Eagle.
23. As you might already know, the Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States.
24. The Bald Eagle is found over most of North America, and eighty percent of them live in Alaska.
25. These birds build several kinds of nests that can be in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground. They change the shape of their nests to fit in different trees.
26. The Bald Eagle is considered a sea eagle with a white head. Also, it has a curved beak that is very strong.
27. It is big and strong and weighs eight to twelve pounds.
28. A Bald Eagle’s wingspan can be two meters (seven feet), and they can be larger than a meter from head to tail!
29. It’s toes have talons which really do give them benefits such as being able to grip things stronger.
30. They have clear, excellent vision which helps them to hunt for prey. They see about seven times better than people can!
31. 1,000 feet up in the air, a Bald Eagle can spot its prey over 3 square miles. These creatures are able to do this because they can see both forward and sideways at the same time.
32. They have binocular vision where both eyes focus forward on a single item. This permits very accurate depth perception.
33. Each eye can also see out the side. This is monocular vision and is very good at detecting motion.
34. Did you know that the bald eagle has between 7,000 and 7,200 feathers?
35. The Bald Eagle eats dead animals, but sometimes will eat live chickens and fish. They hunt in pairs and will steal food from other eagles.
36. Fourth, I will tell you about the red fox.
37. The red fox has a rusty-red fur, a white-tipped bushy tail, black legs, black ears, and a black nose.
38. It ranges from northern America, Canada, Alaska, and northern Europe across to the Pacific Ocean.
39. The red fox can grow up to 2 1/2 feet long, and 15 to 16 inches tall at the shoulders.
40. It weighs 10 to 12 pounds.
41. The red fox is wise, elegant, and a nocturnal creature.
42. It adapts well to different habitats. It usually travels and hunts alone. The red fox is a carnivore, so it eats small animals like rabbits.
43. The female has from 4 to 10 pups early in the spring, and the male will stay around and feed the female while she nurses the pups.
44. Fifth, I will tell you about the wolverine.
45. It ranges from western United States, through Canada, up to Alaska!
46. The wolverine looks sort of like a bear, except with short legs and is the largest member of the weasel family.
47. Its fur is thick and a glossy dark brown, and its head is wide and kind of rounded, with round ears.
48. The wolverine is powerfully built and is well adapted to living in the freezing temperatures.
49. It’s body length can get up 87 centimeters as an adult and can weigh about 45 pounds.
50. Wolverines has a very good sense of smell, which helps it locate food.
51. It is a carnivore, so it usually feeds on rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, and carrion.
52. The wolverine is a timid mammal that tries to avoid contact with humans. Human settlements have decreased the wolverine populations in North America.
Plants in Alaska (By: Sara):
Northern Yarrow:
. It produces one to several stems 6"-3' tall.
. It generally has 3 to 8 ray flowers that are oval to round.
. It also disk flowers that grown in groups of 15 to 40.
. It's a frequent component in butterfly gardens.
Forget-me-not:
. It is Alaska's state flower.
Alaska climate, and what you should wear
(By: Sara)
Climate:
Month Hi (F°) Low (F°) Daylight Hours Sunset Rainy Days Clear Days
May 54 39 17 hours 10:42 pm 7 days 11 days
June 62 47 19 hours 11:40 pm 8 days 10 days
July 65 51 18 hours 11:17 pm 12 days 9 days
August 63 48 15.5 hours 9:57 pm 14 days 9 days
September 55 41 12.5 hours 8:20 pm 14 days 10 days
Clothing:
. The Inner Layer: Long underwear.
. The insulating Layer: Fleece jacket or sweater.
.The Outer Layer: Anything water proof.