East Greenland coastline

East Greenland coastline

The coastal areas of northern and eastern Greenland make up the Kalaallit Nunaat High Arctic Tundra ecoregion. The areas in the interior of this belt of land are either covered with ice or have bare rock surfaces. Mosses and lichens cover about a third of the area, and herbs and shrubs another 3%., the world's largest national park, protects most of the ecoregion. The flora is sparse. There are scattered heaths and fields of low herbaceous plants, but no trees. The vegetation is most dense on the east coast, and the most extensive towards the south. The plants have adapted to this harsh environment by tolerating the cold, long periods of darkness and precipitation, usually in the form of snow. Bare rock and ice or very sparse vegetation covers 50% of the area. Mosses and lichens cover 30% and herbaceous plants and shrubs cover another 3% of the ecoregion. More vegetation, especially marsh willow and northern green orchid, occurs in some small areas on the east coast around the hot springs. The Polar Bear, the reindeer introduced by Europeans, the Arctic Fox, the Arctic Hare, the Musk Ox, the Collared Lemming, the European Hermit and the Arctic Wolf are among Greenland's few native land mammals. The last four species are native only to East Greenland after their introduction from Ellesmere Island. Along the coasts there are dozens of species of seals and whales.