Biological setting
Because of the extremely cold, dry climate, along with the ice-fields and lack of soil materials,
the high and mid-elevations are largely devoid of significant populations of plants and animals.
In the more sheltered valleys at low elevations and along coastal margins, the vegetative cover
is more extensive, consisting of herbaceous and shrub-type communities. Isolated “oases” of
biological activity include sheltered stream banks and coastlines, and south-facing slopes
watered by late melting snow. Lichens are associated with rock fields throughout.