Childrens Illustrated Animal Atlas

The ArcticThe Arctic is the Earth’s northernmost region. Animals here must survive freezing temperatures. Ice and snow cover the area in winter, and the water of the Arctic Ocean freezes over. In summer, much of the ice melts, revealing a treeless habitat on the surrounding land called tundra.

Polar bearThe polar bear actually has black skin, but it is covered by thick fur to keep the bear warm. A strong swimmer, the polar bear hunts seals,

which it can smell from

1 mile (1.6

km) away.

Musk ox

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Hunted by wolves and sometimes polar bears, musk oxen form a circle when threatened.

Arctic tern

This bird flies 24,900 miles (40,000 km) from the Arctic to the Antarctic each year to follow warmer weather.

Siberian brown

lemming

Lemmings are small rodents that live on the tundra, eating grass, seeds, and moss.

Its pure-white coat makes this hare almost invisible in the snow.

SCALE

250 kilometers

0 0

250 miles

HABITAT KEYMountainsSnow

and ice

Coniferous forests

Reindeer

Both male and female reindeer have antlers. They use their hooves to dig for food under the snow.

Reindeer lichen

Lichen is one of the few things reindeer find to eat during Arctic winters.

A polar bear’s white fur helps it

blend in with its habitat.

Arctic cod

This cod has substances in its blood that prevent it from freezing in the polar cold.

CANADA

USA

RUSSIA

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