The mountain goat, also known as the Rocky Mountain goat, is a cloven-footed mammal that is endemic to the remote and rugged mountainous areas of western North America. A subalpine to truly alpine species, it is a sure-footed climber commonly seen on sheer rock faces, near-vertical cliffs and icy passages. Mountain goats generally avoid venturing down into lower elevations—except during seasonal food shortages or during particularly bad weather—as the extreme elevation which they inhabit is their primary defense against predators such as black and brown bears, pumas and wolves.
Mountain goat
Mountain goat on Mount Massive, Colorado, United States
Close-up of head
In the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier National Park, near the southwestern limit of their distribution
Alpine tundra is a type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high elevation, with an associated harsh climate. As the latitude of a location approaches the poles, the threshold elevation for alpine tundra gets lower until it reaches sea level, and alpine tundra merges with polar tundra.
Hikers traversing the Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, much of which is in the alpine zone.
Alpine tundra in the Venezuelan Andes
Summer in Northern Sweden's Tarfala Valley with its alpine climate
Alpine tundra just above the tree line in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia
