Cumulus clouds are rare in tundra skies. Volchya River Delta, Chukotka, Russia.

Chukotka, part 5: Lowland tundra

Most of Chukotka is covered with low mountains, but along the coasts and the great Anadyr River are extensive areas of lowland tundras.

Summer tundra, Amguema Valley.

Summer tundra, Volchya Valley.

Spring tundra from the air, Yamal Peninsula.

Typical tundra is the most extensive. In summer (July and August) it's a soft, bright-green carpet of lichens, herbs and tiny shrubs, with lots of grasses and sedges in low-lying areas.

Tundra up close, Volchya Valley.

Thermokarst lakes, Volchya Valley.

Arctic birch (Betula nana), Volchya Valley.

Some tundra shrubs are tiny relatives of northern trees - birch, willow, and alder. Fall colors are really beautiful in typical tundra.

Willow (Salix sp.), Volchya Valley.

Cotton grass (Eriophorum sp.), Coal Mines, Chukotka.

Cotton grass, Belyaka Spit.

Cotton grass is the easiest- to recognize of all tundra sedges. A dozen species occur on Chukotka, usually in wet areas. Its seeds need sunny days to spread well.

Cotton grass, Amguema Valley.

Cotton grass, Cross Bay.

Labrador tea (Rhododendrom tomentosum), Belyaka Spit.

Labrador tea is another plant that grows all over the lowland tundra, but is mostly confined to marshes and bogs further south. Formerly known as Ledum palustre, it's been recently reclassified as a rhododend- ron, even though it looks different.

Golden rhododendron (Rh. aureum), Cross Bay.

Lapland rhododendron (Rh. lapponicum ssp. parviflorum), Cross Bay.

Lapland rhododendron, Cross Bay.

Other species of this genus are a bit less common on Chukotka, but much more showy. They prefer drier habitats.

Kamchatka rhododendron, Cross Bay.

Kamchatka rhododendron (Rh. kamchaticum), Cross Bay.

Arctic bell-heather (Eriophorum tetragona), Cross Bay.

Other plants of heather family often cover extensive areas of tundra.

Arctic bell-heather, Anadyr area.

Tall Jacob's ladder (Polemonium acutiflorum), Cross Bay.

Tall Jacob's ladder, Cross Bay.

Blue flowers are relatively uncommon on the tundra. Tiny forget-me-not (Eritrichium villosum), Cross Bay. But in some places, they form beautiful "lakes" of color.

Tall Jacob's ladder, Cross Bay.

Northern wolfsbane (Aconitum productum), Anadyr.

Arctic forget-me-not (Eritrichium nanum), Cross Bay.

Chamisso's larkspur (Delphinium chamissonis), Anadyr.

Sweet-flower rock-jasmine (Androsace chamaejasme), Cross Bay.

White, pink, and yellow flowers are much more common in the lowlands, while red and yellow dominate the slopes.

Sweet-flower rock-jasmine, Belyaka Spit.

Red sandwort (Minuartia rubella), Belyaka Spit.

Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium sp.), Cross Bay.

Moss campion (Silene acaulis), Cross Bay.

Common wintergreen (Pyrola minor), Cross Bay.

Great wildflower displays don't occur every year. Some summers are cold and rainy, the snow doesn't melt until July, and there are few flowers. Snow can fall at any time of the year.

Western bistort (Polygonum bistorioides), Cross Bay.

Bering Sea spring beauty (Claytonia acutifolia), Russkaya Koshka Spit.

Arctic daisy (Arctanthemum arcticum), Dionisia Cape.

Lousewort (Pedicularis sp.), Ioanna River.

The summer of 2007, when most photos on this page were taken, was warm and sunny, so wildflower blooms were splendid.

Northern saw-wort (Saussurea tilesii), Cross Bay.

Cinquefoils: Potentilla ? cuneata (left, center), P. hyparctica. Cross Bay.

Siberian anemone (Anemone sibirica), Cross Bay.

Arctic summer is intense, but very short. Locoweed (Oxytropis sp.), Vrangel Island. In August, autumn already begins.

Sea pink (Armeria maritima), Sbornaya River.

Volchya River Delta, Chukotka, Russia.

Part 6. Lowland tundra (continued)

Back to Part 4