Wildlife of
Arhangel'skaja oblast'

Vast taiga dominates the mainland: spruce-pine forests with birch/aspen succession after fire or logging, extensive lichen/moss ground layers, and a mosaic of forested bogs.

Dominant on the mainland; roughly ~60-80% overall depending on how tundra/islands are counted.

Treeless to sparsely wooded tundra occurs toward the far north and across Arctic coastal areas; vegetation includes dwarf shrubs, sedges, mosses, lichens, and patterned-ground communities, with forest-tundra ecotones.

Common in the northernmost parts and Arctic coastal sectors; ~10-25% overall (higher if Arctic island territories are included).

Peatlands (raised bogs, string fens, swampy forested mires) are large carbon stores and key breeding areas for waterbirds; many parts stay waterlogged because of flat land and permafrost in the far north.

Widespread throughout lowlands; locally dominant; ~10-25%.

Large river systems (Northern Dvina, Onega, Mezen) with broad floodplains and deltas, thousands of lakes and ponds, and long ice-covered seasons shape riparian forests, floodplain meadows, and aquatic habitats.

Distributed across the oblast; ~5-10% as open water and associated riparian corridors.

White Sea and Barents Sea coastal and nearshore ecosystems include ice-influenced waters, productive estuaries, and coastal seabeds; strong seasonality (ice, storms) structures food webs supporting seabirds and marine mammals.

Along the White Sea coast and Arctic island/coastal territories; spatially limited on land but ecologically significant along shorelines and shelves.

Spruce- and pine-dominated taiga (often with birch admixture), including old-growth remnants and large managed forest tracts; important for large carnivores, forest birds, and boreal biodiversity.

Secondary birch/aspen stands common after disturbance (fire, windthrow, logging), especially in southern/central areas and along river terraces.

Broad taiga mosaic combining conifer stands, mixed succession patches, and forest-wetland complexes across gently rolling lowlands.

Raised bogs and peat plateaus (locally), with sphagnum mats, dwarf shrubs, and acidic pools; extensive peat accumulation and fire-sensitive surfaces.

Minerotrophic wetlands and river/lake-edge marshes with sedges and reeds, especially in floodplains, deltas, and low coastal areas.

Forested wetlands (often spruce/birch) with saturated soils and hummock-hollow microrelief; frequent in flat taiga landscapes.

Large mire complexes (bog-fen mosaics) and wet meadows that serve as key breeding and staging areas for migratory birds.

Major rivers (Northern Dvina, Onega, Mezen) with braided/meandering reaches, oxbows, and riparian zones; significant fish habitat and migration corridors.

Numerous glacial and peatland lakes/pond systems, often oligotrophic and ice-covered for long periods; important for waterfowl and aquatic invertebrates.

River mouths and deltas entering the White Sea (notably the Northern Dvina delta) with brackish gradients, mudflats, and high productivity.

White Sea coast (bays, tidal flats) and Arctic coasts around island territories; shoreline ecosystems shaped by ice scour, tides (White Sea), and storm surges.

Sandy and mixed sediment beaches occur locally along the White Sea and some island shores, often with dune/strand vegetation where exposure allows.

Rocky and boulder shores and low cliffs occur in parts of the White Sea and Arctic archipelagos, supporting seabird nesting sites and intertidal communities.

Adjacent marine waters of the White and Barents seas (seasonally ice-covered), supporting pelagic food webs and migratory seabirds.

Shelf seabeds with soft sediments and benthic communities; key feeding areas for fish and bottom-feeding marine fauna in nearshore and shelf zones.

Dwarf-shrub and lichen tundra, wet sedge tundra in poorly drained areas, and forest-tundra transition zones toward the far north.

Urban/industrial habitats concentrated around Arkhangelsk-Severodvinsk and other towns, with ports and shipbuilding along the Northern Dvina and coast.

Limited agriculture in the south/river valleys (hayfields, small-scale cropping), constrained by cool climate and short growing season.