Shelledy Elementary

Through the Seasons

Colorado Life Zones: Seasons, Plants, & Animals

Step 1: Choose One of the Life Zones or Choices Below

Life Zones Menu Bar
Colorado Life Zones General Information Interactive Elevation & Life Zone Diagram Colorado Maps: Life Zones and More Semidesert Shrublands (West CO) Shortgrass Plains Life Zone (East CO) Foothills Woodlands & Shrublands Montane Forests Life Zone Subalpine Life Zone Alpine Life Zone Riparian Life Zones

Subalpine Life Zone: Seasons, Plants, & Animals

Step 2: Choose a Topic from the Subalpine Life Zone & Scroll Down

Subalpine Life Zone General Information
General Information

Subalpine Life Zone Through the Seasons
Through the Seasons

Subalpine Life Zone Extreme Weather
Extreme Weather

Subalpine Life Zone Awesome Adaptations
Awesome Adaptations

Subalpine Life Zone Plants and Trees
Plants and Trees

Subalpine Life Zone Mammals
Mammals

Subalpine Life Zone Birds
Birds

Subalpine Life Zone Reptiles and Amphibians
Reptiles & Amphibians

Subalpine Life Zone Through the Seasons

Winter rules the subalpine for most of the year. Temperatures can get well below 0 degrees F for several months. The tall mountains catch lots of snow from the winter storm clouds. Several feet of snow may cover the land. Snow drifts can get over 7 feet deep. It can take most of spring to melt enough snow to see the ground. The melted snow flows down forming ever larger streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Summer lasts from late June to early September. High temperatures can reach the high 70's to low 80's degrees F. Though all year, the almost constant wind can make it seem cooler. It is still possible to find snow in summer in the shade of large pine trees or on north facing slopes.

Subalpine Spring

Subalpine Summer

Supalpine Spring Subalpine Summer
Subalpine Fall Subalpine Winter

Subalpine Fall

Subalpine Winter

Rain Shadow