Taiga Biome:
The majority of the biome is made up of coniferous forest. These gymnosperms have evolved overtime to handle the extreme cold winters. Trees like Firs and Pines are well adapted to this environment. Their needles limit water and heat loss. They also stay attached year long, hence the nickname "evergreens." This biome is known for its long, frigid winter followed by a short, warm summer. The average annual rainfall ranges from above 200cm to as far down as 20cm(marietta). This biome ecompasses so much land mass that the climate varies in different locations. As you move towards the south, the summers get longer and the temperatures increase, but the overall biome is still dominated by coniferous trees. There are sub-biomes like the Boreal forests in central Canada and the Alpine Biome which is a coniferous forest biome in high elevations. The Alpine biome is seen around the Rocky and Cascade Mountains.
The majority of the biome is made up of coniferous forest. These gymnosperms have evolved overtime to handle the extreme cold winters. Trees like Firs and Pines are well adapted to this environment. Their needles limit water and heat loss. They also stay attached year long, hence the nickname "evergreens." This biome is known for its long, frigid winter followed by a short, warm summer. The average annual rainfall ranges from above 200cm to as far down as 20cm(marietta). This biome ecompasses so much land mass that the climate varies in different locations. As you move towards the south, the summers get longer and the temperatures increase, but the overall biome is still dominated by coniferous trees. There are sub-biomes like the Boreal forests in central Canada and the Alpine Biome which is a coniferous forest biome in high elevations. The Alpine biome is seen around the Rocky and Cascade Mountains.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is located in southwest Oregon about 60 miles outside of Medford. The park lies in the middle of the Cascade Mountain range and covers 286 square miles (NW). Its most prominent feature is the expansive lake, Crater Lake. It is the deepest lake in the United States and in North America with a maximum depth of 1943 ft. It was formed when the massive volcano, Mount Mazama, erupted 7,700 years ago and collapsed on itself(Wb). The lake is incredibly clear because it almost completely filled by snowfall(FaF). The outer walls of the lake, known as the rim, rise up on average 1000 ft above the lake surface(ETPN). The water is home to a unique aquatic ecosystem. An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. The aquatic ecosystem in Crater Lake is one worth exploring.