The taiga is the boreal forest biome spanning much of Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, and Russia.
It forms a broad belt across the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere, south of the Arctic tundra. The taiga has long, cold winters and short summers. Common trees include spruces, firs, pines, larches, and birches, with species varying by region and climate.
The biome is not a single continuous forest of identical trees. It includes wetlands, lakes, rivers, open areas, rocky ground, and recently burned landscapes. Fire, insects, disease, permafrost, and logging all influence its structure. Many animals, including moose, lynx, brown bears, wolves, and migratory birds, use taiga habitats.
“Taiga” and “boreal forest” are often used as near-synonyms, though taiga can emphasize the northern coniferous landscape. Tundra is colder and generally lacks continuous trees, while savanna is a warm grassland with scattered trees.