| Arctic desert | |
|---|---|
 Bell Island, Franz Joseph Land | |
 Ecoregion territory (in purple) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Tundra |
| Geography | |
| Area | 161,400 km2 (62,300 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Coordinates | 81°N 55°E / 81°N 55°E |
The Arctic desert ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1101) is a terrestrial ecoregion that covers the island groups of Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, Severny Island and Severnaya Zemlya in the Arctic Ocean, above 75 degrees north latitude. The region is covered with glaciers, snow, and bare rock in a harshly cold environment. The temperature does rise above freezing for short periods in the summer, so some ice melt occurs, and the area supports colonies of sea birds and mammals.[1] It has an area of 161,400 square kilometres (62,300 sq mi).[2][3][4]
- ^ "Russian Arctic National Park" (in Russian). Russian Arctic National Park. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- ^ "Arctic desert". GlobalSpecies.org. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ^ "Arctic desert". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ^ "Arctic desert". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved October 19, 2020.