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Where are taiga forests found around the world?
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Taiga
Boreal forest, Alaska, U.S., dominated by spruce trees (Picea).
The taiga, or boreal forest, exists as broad, continuous belts of vegetation spanning the northern regions of North America and Eurasia.1
North America
The taiga covers much of Canada and Alaska. While transition forests exist in the northern United States, the true taiga is primarily found north of the southern Canadian border.1
Eurasia
- Russia: The vast Siberian taiga stretches across the country and extends southward into parts of Mongolia and northeastern China.1
- Europe: Much of Finland, Sweden, and Norway are covered by this biome.1
- United Kingdom: A small, isolated area of boreal forest is found in the Scottish Highlands.1
The distribution of these forests is largely determined by temperature and the length of the growing season. Ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream, influence the northern and southern boundaries of these regions, causing them to shift based on local climate conditions.1