What Are Natural Resources Found in the Tundra?
Natural resources in the tundra include plants, animals, such as caribou, elk and foxes and sources of energy including uranium and oil. Natural resources refer to usable items deriving from nature, instead of undergoing an artificial manufacturing process in human hands. These resources range from living beings, such as berries, mushrooms and whales, to nonrenewable sources of fuel and economy-stimulating products like metals and minerals.
The tundra, like other biomes on Earth, contains a distinct set of resources. The resources in the cold, snowy tundra differ from those found in other climates. Here, migratory marine and land animals sustain the local populations. Locals hunt many species, including whales, seals and caribou, for food and clothing. Temperatures in the tundra make large-scale agriculture and farming virtually impossible. For fresh produce, residents forage for food during the brief summer months, collecting berries, root vegetables and mushrooms growing wild. In addition to these renewable sources, the tundra contains finite natural sources, primarily oil and uranium. Oil and uranium reside in large deposits, and require mining and refining. These resources provide jobs for local residents, but jeopardize the health and well-being of many animals and the fragile tundra ecosystem. The amount and variety of resources varies among the four locations with tundras in the world, which includes Alaska, parts of Canada, Norway and Russia.
