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O I L A N D GA S I N T H E A R C T I C

scape changes. Below the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean lies the tundra, which is derived from the Finnish word tunturia , meaning “treeless plain.” The main feature of the tundra is its permafrost , a layer of permanently frozen earth sometimes as much as a thousand feet thick. Coupled with cold air tempera- tures and gusty Arctic winds, it is difficult for trees to take root

The rivers flowing through the taiga in the Arctic Circle are home to many types of wildlife, including several species of the mighty bear.