Forests can be classified in many ways. In general, however, coniferous forests are categorized as boreal/taiga, mountain, temperate evergreen, temperate pine, or Southern Hemisphere forests.

Boreal Forest/Taiga

The word boreal (BOHR-ee-yuhl) means "northern," and taiga (TAY-guh) is a Russian word for "little sticks." Boreal forests, or taiga, are found in regions bordering the Arctic tundra (a region so dry and cold that no trees will grow). These are the great northern forests of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Scandinavia, and they form some of the largest forest biomes in the world.

Trees in the boreal forest grow at higher latitudes (a distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees) than trees in any other type of forest. The most common are spruce, pine, and fir.

The boreal forest may be divided into three zones. The northernmost zone is the...