The Taymyr Peninsula reaches into the Arctic Ocean, between the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea in northern Siberia. Unlike much of the Arctic North, which is lowland tundra, the Taymyr Peninsula is built around highlands - the Byrranga Mountains. A notable feature of the ecoregion is Lake Taymyr, a large (165 km long) lake in the south of the Byrranga Mountains. The coastal plain to the north is arctic coastal desert and tundra, with terrain to the south of the mountains featuring tundra, wetlands, and thermokarst. The area is one of continual permafrost.
Climate
The region has a tundra climate (Koppen ET), with the southern regions grading into subarctic (DWC). Mean precipitation is about 257mm/year. The mean temperature at the center of the ecoregion is −33.5 °C (−28.3 °F) in January, and 13.2 °C (55.8 °F) in July.[3]
Flora and fauna
The flora is predominantly forbs, grasses, dwarf shrubs, and lichen. Sparse stands of willow and dwarf birch can be found in river valleys and along lake shores.
Mammals are scarce, with half being seasonal or migratory visitors. The ecoregion is the most important breeding area in Central Asia for migratory birds. in late-July and August, the total number of geese is estimated at 30,000-40,000. There are two breeding colonies of the vulnerable red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis).[4]
Protections
There are several significant nationally protected area that reach into this ecoregion:
Taymyr Nature Reserve, located on four different sectors of the Taymyr region, including the Laptev coast, the Byrranga mountains, and lowland areas, and