Biome Explorer

Biome library

13 biomes shown

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  Temperate woodland Broadleaf and mixed forest with four clear seasons, fertile soils and steady rain. Compare

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  Boreal forest (taiga) Vast conifer forest of the cold north, with long winters, short summers, lakes and bogs. Compare

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  Grassland and steppe Open plains of grasses with few trees, deep soils, hot summers, cold winters and uneven rain. Compare

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  Hot desert Very dry land with scorching days, cool nights, sparse plants and water hidden in a few places. Compare

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  Semi-arid desert Arid scrublands, sandstone mesas and dry washes with seasonal cloudbursts, hardy brush and rugged canyon terrain. Compare

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  Mediterranean scrub Sun-drenched coastal hills and scrublands with dry summers, mild rainy winters, aromatic brush, olive trees and cypress. Compare

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  Tundra Treeless, windswept plains of the far north, with frozen ground, low plants and a brief summer. Compare

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  Polar ice sheet Vast permanent continental glaciers and pack ice swept by katabatic blizzards, with sheer crevasses and zero plant life. Compare

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  Wetland Land where water sits at or near the surface for much of the year: marsh, swamp, bog and fen. Compare

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  Tropical rainforest Hot, humid forest with towering layered trees, almost daily rain and great variety of life. Compare

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  Coastline The edge of the sea: beaches, cliffs, estuaries and tidal flats, shaped by waves, tides and storms. Compare

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  Savanna Warm grassland with scattered trees, a long dry season and a wet season that brings the herds. Compare

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  Alpine and montane High mountains where cold, thin air and steep ground change life in bands from valley to peak. Compare