Editing Geography of Norway (section)

===Tundra===
[[File:Muskus.jpg|thumb|[[Muskox]] in the low alpine tundra at [[Dovrefjell]]]]

Alpine tundra is common in Norway, covering a total of 32% of the land area (excluding Svalbard and Jan Mayen) and belonging to the Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands ecoregion (PA1110). The area closest to the tree line (low alpine) has continuous plant cover, with [[Salix|willow]] species such as ''[[Salix glauca]]'', ''[[Salix lanata|S. lanata]]'', and ''[[Salix lapponum|S. lapponum]]'' ({{convert|0.5|m}} tall); [[blueberry]], [[Juniperus communis|common juniper]], and [[Linnaea borealis|twinflower]] are also common. The low alpine area was traditionally used as summer pasture, and in part still is. This zone reaches an elevation of {{convert|1500|m}} in Jotunheimen, including most of [[Hardangervidda]]; {{convert|1300|m}} in eastern [[Trollheimen]]; and about {{convert|800|m}} at Narvik and the [[Lyngen Alps]]. Higher up (mid-alpine tundra) the plants become smaller; mosses and lichens are more predominant; and plants still cover most of the ground, even if snowfields lasting into mid-summer and permafrost are common. At the highest elevations (high-alpine tundra) the ground is dominated by bare rock, snow, and glaciers, with few plants.

[[File:Nordaustlandet (js) 2.jpg|thumb|The Arctic desert on [[Nordaustlandet]]]]
[[File:Hurrungane, 1990.jpg|thumb|High alpine tundra in [[Hurrungane]]]]

The highest weather station in Norway—Fanaråken in [[Luster Municipality]], at {{convert|2062|m}}—has barely three months of above freezing temperatures and a July average of {{convert|2.7|C}}. Still, glacier buttercup has been found only {{convert|100|m}} below the summit of [[Galdhøpiggen]], and [[moss]]es and [[lichen]]s have been found at the summit.

In northeastern Finnmark (northern half of the [[Varanger Peninsula]] and the [[Nordkinn Peninsula]]) is a small lowland tundra area which is often considered part of the [[Kola Peninsula tundra]] ecoregion (PA1106). Svalbard and Jan Mayen have tundra vegetation except for areas covered by glaciers; and some areas, such as the cliffs at southern [[Bear Island (Norway)|Bear Island]], are fertilized by [[seabird]] colonies. This tundra is often considered part of the [[Arctic Desert]] ecoregion (PA1101). The lushest areas on these Arctic islands are sheltered fjord areas at [[Spitsbergen]]; they have the highest summer temperatures and the very dry climate makes for little snow and thus comparatively early [[snowmelt]]. The short growing season and the [[permafrost]] underneath the active layer provide enough moisture. Plants include [[dwarf birch]], [[Rubus chamaemorus|cloudberry]], [[Svalbard poppy]], and [[Campanula rotundifolia|harebell]].

A warmer climate would push the vegetation zones significantly northwards and to higher elevations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acia.cicero.uio.no/factsheets/3_vegetation_zones.pdf |title=Fact sheet |website=uio.no |access-date=14 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927093648/http://acia.cicero.uio.no/factsheets/3_vegetation_zones.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>