Snow covered spruce trees in the boreal forest of Fairbanks, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
The boreal forest or “northern forest” is the world’s largest land-based biome and represents approximately 30% of the world’s forest. In Alaska, the boreal forest or “taiga” exits between the northern Brooks Range down to the southern Coast Range mountains, covering most of Interior Alaska. It features a relatively low diversity of species, dominated by a few conifers and deciduous tree species. The white and black spruce along with the paper birch, balsam poplar and aspen trees are most common. It is intermingled with meadows, lakes, winding rivers, wetlands, and home to many species of birds and animals.
