Boreal forest of Canada facts for kids

A satellite composite image of Canada. Boreal forests, visible as darker shades of green, prevail throughout most of the country, including the Arctic, the eastern slopes of the northern Coast Mountains and the Saint Elias Mountains.

Boreal forests occur in the more southern parts of the Taiga ecoregion that spreads across the northern parts of the world.

Distribution of taiga and boreal forests in North America (dark blue area in Canada and Alaska).

Canada's boreal forest comprises about one third of the circumpolar boreal forest that rings the northern hemisphere, mostly north of the 50th parallel.

Images for kids

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  Typical upland taiga in Quebec

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  The Calypso orchid grows in the shade of boreal forests.

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  A Sphagnum bog with spruce trees on a forested ridge in Quebec

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  Sheep laurel grows in clearings and shallow soils. It can form extensive shrub barrens after logging.

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  The Canada warbler nests on the ground in boreal forests.

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  Fireweed is a native wildflower that grows after forest fires.

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  A skidder is used to clear forest and move logs.