Northern and Western Distribution of Tree Growth in Alaska

• Main Author: Merritt, M.L.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Iowa State University Digital Repository 1932
• Subjects: Forest Sciences; Bering Sea; Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/amesforester/vol27/iss1/16; https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2418&context=amesforester

THE southern coastal and the interior country of Alaska is fairly well wooded below normal timber line wherever soil and drainage conditions are favorable. However, north of about 67° or 68° north latitude, on a broad strip bordering Bering Sea on the west, on the Aleutian Islands, and on much of the lower Aleutian Peninsula, no tree growth of any importance is found. Why the absence of tree growth in these southwestern, western and northern regions ? They are not, of course, the frozen wastes which might be pictured, but support a rich growth of hardy vegetation. Why no trees?