Borovichev E.A. Botanical excursion on the Northern Soroya. Hammerfest, 2014.

situated mainly near lakes and rivers. Tundra zone is situated above the timberline, and its vegetation changes dramatically following a microclimatic gradient. It includes temperature drops 0.6° for every 100 m increase o f elevation, severe winds, snow conditions and frost soils (due to Sporadic permafrost). Tundra zone in mountains o f the Soreya is subdivided into three vertical subzones: a lower alpine, middle alpine and high alpine. Slope meadows, grasslands and mires, rock and scree vegetation are regular components o f tundra zone on the Soroya Island. Lower alpine subzone lies on lower part o f slopes, just above the tree line. There are prevailing dwarf birches and willows along with slope meadows and mires, bilberry and crowberry heath. The middle alpine subzone occupies flat stony summits and upper slopes of mountains. Alpine Azalea, Moss Campion, Mountain Avens, Woodrush, Three-leaved Rush and mosses (Racomitrium lanuginosiim) and lichens (Flavocetraria nivalis, Ochrolechia frigida) are the most typical inhabitants on disconnected and prostrate fragments of heathlands. Tn the middle o f July, a close examination o f the high mountains rocky fields reveals a brilliantly colored painting formed by flowering cushion-like and prostrate plants. The high alpine subzone is situated on high summits and is characterized by patchy plant cover dominated mainly by lichens and mosses. Exposed rocks and boulders are covered by crustaceous and foliose lichens and some mosses. Melting snowfields are surrounded by special snow-bed vegetation composed mainly by grasses and mosses. Coastal heaths and grasslands o f the Soroya Island are formed on the sea terraces, mainly in ancient glacier valley mouths or in shallow bays, on thin but fertile soils derived from marine pebble and alluvial sand. Some coastal grasslands are used as pastures and hay meadows. Damaged by larvae o fmoth Epirrita autumnata shrub-like mountain birchforest on the Gamvika Bay 26