An ecoregion is a relatively large area of land or water sharing geographically distinct natural communities. Ecoregions have characteristic combinations of climate, topography, soil, flora and fauna. Species found within each ecoregion interact ecologically in ways that are critical for their long term persistence.

Canada and the United States both have systems to base ecoregion divisions on. This map uses the Terrestrial Ecozones of Canada, developed by Environment Canada and the Ecoregions of Alaska, based on the Bailey approach to ecoregion mapping.

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The north coast of Alaska is a broad, level plain that is generally less than 300m in elevation. It is a treeless, windswept landscape characterized by lakes, wetlands, and permafrost related features. Permafrost is a thick, unbroken layer of ice that lies underneath the ecoregion to depths of 600m in some areas and is almost continuous across the region. When water melts on top of the permafrost, it collects into “thaw” lakes which cover close to 50% of the ecoregion. Due to the abundance of lakes and saturated soils, over 82% of the ecoregion is considered wetland.

The severe arctic climate produces short, cool summers and long, cold winters reaching temperatures of -51°C. The average annual temperature varies from -13 to -10 C. In summer, the ecoregion has sunlight 24 hours a day for up to 85 consecutive days, and in winter, it can remain dark 24 hours a day for as long as 67 consecutive days. The growing season averages only two weeks per year with a low average annual precipitation of 10-15 cm that mostly falls as snow during the winter.

The entire Arctic Coastal Plain is an important breeding and calving ground for many species including many species of waterfowl that nest on the coastal plain. The ecoregion is important to shorebirds, both nationally and internationally.

The Brooks Range is a northern extension of the Rocky Mountains with elevations ranging from 500 – 2600m. The range is characterized by steep mountains with scattered glaciers above 1800m. Parts of the range have large lakes created from glacial moraine dams with high energy streams and rivers cutting through narrow ravines. Due to the harsh, mountainous terrain and climate of this ecoregion, vegetation cover is sparse and restricted mostly to valleys and lower slopes. Wetlands occupy at least 20% of the ecoregion.

The dry polar climate has short, cool summers reaching temperatures of 38°C and long, cold winters reaching temperatures of -60°C. The average annual temperatures ranges from -12 to -6°C. The ecoregion gets several days of 24-hr sunlight in June, and several sunless days in December. Average annual precipitation averages 15- 33 cm, but drainage is rapid due to the region’s steep slopes and the low holding capacity of its soils. Permafrost is continuous under the entire area.

The extreme continental boreal climate has severely cold winters, and short, hot summers. Average temperatures range from -12°C to -4°C. Annual precipitation averages 26-38cm with precipitation being heaviest in late summer. Annual average snowfall averages 120-250cm. Discontinuous permafrost is found under the entire ecoregion.

The extreme polar climate has short (four months), cool summers with temperatures averaging 5ºC and long, dark, cold winters with temperatures averaging -28ºC. Average annual precipitation ranges from 25-50cm.

The Taiga Plains Ecozone is characterized by broad lowlands and plateaus centred on the Mackenzie River (Canada’s largest river) and its many tributaries. In some places the tributaries have cut canyons hundreds of metres deep into the ground. The lowest areas are primarily large wetlands and muskeg with soil being shallow, highly acidic, and nutrient-poor. The floodplains are covered in small lakes and meandering channels with fast eroding banks.

The subarctic climate has short, cool summers with temperatures averaging 7 to 15°C and long, cold winters with temperatures averaging -15 to -26°C. Snow and freshwater ice-cover persists for six to eight months a year. Average annual precipitation ranges from 25-50cm.