90-16AP Alpine Forest Art PrintThis scene is near Mt. Rainier in Washington, in an area where Alpine Fir grows. At timberline Alpine Fir is slow growing, dwarfed and distorted. At lower elevations (it rarely grows below 3,000 feet in this region) the Alpine, or Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa) grows with an Eiffel Tower shape to about 40' to 100' tall and up to 1' to 2' in diameter.Alpine forests have many wildlife inhabitants among which are Elk shown in this painting. They occupy alpine regions during the summer and fall months and in early December migrate to lower elevations. After they calve in late May they return to the alpine forests. Wildlife is essential to the balance in the forests of North America. At times it seems that they are over-destructive, witnessed by the two small trees destroyed by the bull in this scene. But without wildlife vegetation could become so thick that it would smother itself with overgrowth. Alpine Fir is probably the least desireable of the true firs for forest products as it is so slow growing and it grows in such fragile, high altitude areas. |
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