The Scandinavian coastal conifer forests or Norwegian coastal conifer forest is a Palearctic ecoregion in the temperate coniferous forests biome, located along the coast of Norway. Within it are a number of small areas with botanical features and a local climate consistent with a temperate rainforest. Location and description The Scandinavian coastal conifer forest is a terrestrial ecoregion as defined by WWF and National Geographic. The broad definition is based on climatic parameters and includes a long area along the western Norwegian coast from Lindesnes and north to approximately Senja (further north summers are too cool for pine in coastal areas); in essence areas along the Norwegian coast where winters are fairly mild and where precipitation is sufficient and falls all year, usually with a peak in autumn and winter. It might include areas lacking naturally occurring conifer forests (as in Lofoten, where the pine forest was cleared by man many centuries ago) and even islands and rocky headlands with little or no woodland and forest, as well as areas with mostly deciduous forest (aspen, silver birch and downy birch, elm, rowan, sycamore maple, hazel). The pine trees can be very old, up to 700 years in some areas in the north (hinnøya). At somewhat higher elevations near the treeline in the Scandinavian Mountains is the Scandinavian montane birch forest and grasslands ecoregion. In some areas along valleys, this ecoregion meet the taiga of the inland belonging to the Scandinavian and Russian taiga ecoregion without mountain barriers. Examples of such valleys include the Rauma valley connecting Åndalsnes to Lesja and Dombås and the Namdalen valley connecting the Nord-Trøndelag coast to the cold interior with connection into Sweden. The ecoregion is naturally fragmented by fjords and mountains. Oceanic climate This area has a growing season lasting 150–240 days (24-hr mean 5 °C threshold) and reliable precipitation, from 870 to 3,000 mm. July mean range from 12 at some islands in the north (Andenes, Røst) to 16 °C in sheltered fjords in the south (Kvamsøy). Average daily highs in July range from 14 to 20 °C. Winters are often rainy and sometimes snowy (especially in northern areas), January mean range from −2° to 3 °C with daytime highs from 0 to 5 °C. Mean annual temperature range from 8.5 °C in the south (Bømlo; Stavanger and Bergen at 8.4), 6-7 °C in central area (Kristiansund 7.2 °C, Brønnøy 6.6 °C) to 4-5