Arctic Tundra

The tundra is one of the coldest places on Earth! Temperatures can drop to -40°F in winter. It is cold and dry, with very little rain — sometimes less than a desert! Winds blow constantly. The tundra has very long winters with almost no sunlight and very short summers with nearly 24 hours of daylight. Under the ground is permafrost — soil that stays frozen ALL year, even in summer. Only the very top layer thaws.