Culture, Taiga, and Tundra: A Seminar on the Russian North
 
Flag of Karelia
The Tundra
Flag of Murmansk
Our group in the Arctic tundra - no trees, windy, and cool. Dr. Vasilevskaya led this excursion (third from right). We were accompanied by one of her students, Dasha (far right). Our group on a small snow field with the tundra behind us. Not many American school teachers ever travel to the Arctic tundra!! There ARE trees in the tundra, but they are very, very small and very, very, old. This birch tree is 300 years old. It grows very slowly and is small because of the extremely harsh climate.
The tundra is not devoid of vegetation. We are standing on a 5-6 inch carpet of tundra vegetation. We were told that it will take 50 years to recover from our footsteps! Observing the beauty of the tundra. Being in the tundra was the highlight of our trip to the Russian North. It was an outstanding experience!!