Vast treeless Arctic region (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: TUNDRA (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Vast treeless Arctic region" with 6 letters is "TUNDRA".Tundra is a vast, treeless region found in the Arctic or high mountain areas, characterized by cold temperatures, low precipitation, and minimal vegetation. It is a unique ecosystem where only hardy plants like mosses and grasses can survive due to the harsh environmental conditions.
Why “Tundra” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (6 letters) meaning “vast treeless Arctic region.” The answer, TUNDRA, fits perfectly:
- Vast treeless Arctic region: Tundra describes a cold, flat, and treeless landscape found in Arctic and sub-Arctic zones — exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With six letters, tundra fits the enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The word defines a biome characterised by permafrost (permanently frozen ground), low vegetation, and extreme climatic conditions where trees cannot grow.
The tundra is one of the most distinctive natural environments on Earth, known for its stark beauty and ecological significance:
- Origin and usage: The term tundra comes from the Russian word тундра (tundra), which itself derives from the Finnish tunturi, meaning “treeless plain.” It entered English in the late 18th century through scientific and geographical studies of northern regions.
Geographical distribution:
- Found primarily in the Arctic (northern parts of Russia, Canada, Alaska, Norway, and Greenland).
- Also appears in alpine zones at high altitudes where the environment mirrors Arctic conditions.
Environmental features:
- Harsh climate with long, cold winters and short summers.
- Soil remains frozen most of the year (permafrost).
- Dominated by mosses, lichens, and small shrubs instead of trees.
Ecological importance:
Serves as a critical carbon sink; permafrost stores vast amounts of organic carbon.
Home to resilient species like caribou, Arctic foxes, and snowy owls.
Examples:
“Reindeer migrate across the tundra in search of food.”
“The Arctic tundra remains frozen even in summer.”
“Scientists study melting permafrost in the tundra to understand climate change.”
In quick crosswords like “Vast treeless Arctic region (6),” place-based or nature-themed clues often point to geographical terms:
- Definition: “Vast treeless Arctic region” directly and wholly defines tundra.
- Clue type: Pure definition without wordplay — a straightforward general knowledge clue.
Solving approach:
- Focus on broad geographical zones or biomes associated with Arctic or polar descriptions (tundra, taiga, steppe, savanna).
- The (6) enumeration narrows the options — tundra being the only accurate fit describing an Arctic treeless landscape.
Common crossword pattern: Clues about world geography often use terse but descriptive phrases like “cold plain,” “grassland,” “desert,” or “region” to signal biomes such as tundra or savanna.
