World's Most Forested Area: The Taiga (Boreal Forest)

The Taiga (boreal forest) is the largest forested biome on Earth, covering ~12 million km² (4.6 million mi²) across the subarctic Northern Hemisphere.

Extent

• Eurasia: Scandinavia, European Russia, Siberia to Russian Far East.
• North America: Alaska, Canada (broad belt), northern US (Maine, Minnesota, Michigan).

Characteristics

• Climate: Long, severe winters (-50°C possible); short, cool summers (1–3 months >10°C).
• Dominant Trees: Conifers—spruce (Picea), fir (Abies), pine (Pinus), larch (Larix)—adapted to cold, thin soils.
• Wildlife: Wolves, bears (brown/black), moose, elk, lynx, wolverine, migratory birds, billions of insects.
• Carbon Sink: Massive soil carbon storage (peat); critical for global climate regulation.

Threats: logging, mining, oil/gas, climate change (permafrost thaw, fire regime shift).