A tundra is a cold, treeless area.
 

In a tundra area trees do not grow because of the low temperature and short growing season. The ground (other than an inch or two) may be permanently frozen.

There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, Antarctic tundra, and alpine tundra. In all of these types, the main vegetation is grasses, mosses, and lichens.
 
The tundra is a very windy area, with winds blowing upwards of 30-60 miles an hour. It may have only 6-10 inches of precipitation each year, and usually that is in the form of snow.
 

 

Related Terms
plain - a tundra is a plain
desert - a tundra may have a small enough precipitation to be considered a desert (less than 10 inches).
 
 
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