How does the landscape differ on each side of the Northwest Territories timberline?

The timberline in the Northwest Territories serves as a transition zone between two distinct landscapes.1

Southwest of the Timberline
This region is characterized by the northernmost reaches of the Canadian boreal forest, or taiga, which extends westward to the mountains bordering the Yukon. The area features forests of black and white spruce mixed with deciduous species, particularly within the Mackenzie Lowlands. This landscape supports a variety of wildlife, including moose, wolves, black and grizzly bears, mountain sheep, and fur-bearing animals like beaver and muskrat.1

North and East of the Timberline
Beyond the tree line, the landscape shifts to the "barren grounds" of the Arctic. This area is defined by the ancient, rocky Canadian Shield and flat, often poorly drained lowlands. Trees disappear and are replaced by tundra vegetation, consisting of mosses, lichens, and hardy flowering plants. Animal life in these regions includes caribou, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, and various small burrowing mammals, while coastal areas are inhabited by seals, walrus, and polar bears.1