Taimyr and Siberian Coastal Tundra
About the Area
The region's freshwater systems support nearly 60 species of fish and are important spawning grounds for certain species.
Large mammals include Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), Polar bear (Thalarctos maritimus), Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus laptevi), and Wolf (Canis lupis). Among the bird species found here are: Bean goose (Anser fabalis), Red breasted goose (Rubibrenta ruficollis), Lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), and Bewick's swan (Cygnus bewickii) - all listed in Russia's Red Book.
While much of the Arctic remains intact, mining, heavy industry, nuclear power plants, climate change, and air pollution threaten the ecoregion.
1,177,000 sq. km (454,000 sq. miles)
Central region of the north coast of Eurasia, including the Yamal and Gyden peninsulas in Russia
Is it true that this ecoregion was once home to the woolly mammoths?
Scientists have uncovered the teeth and tusks of woolly mammoths in this ecoregion. These enormous mammals lived on the Gydan and Taimyr Peninsulas before they became extinct thousands of years ago.