BERINGIA – ZAGINIONY LĄD

During the Pleistocene glaciations, areas previously occupied by waters have emerged as a result of global sea level reduction. Such a region was, among others, Beringia, a land bridge connecting Asia (Siberia) with North America (Alaska and Yukon).Despite its location in the Arctic region, Beringia in Pleistocene was not glaciated and played a very important role as a refuge for living organisms. This work discusses the reasons underlying existence of the refuge in this place and characterizes its nature during Pleistocene and the Holocene.Apart from the refugium function, Beringia also played a very important role as a land bridge between the continents providing a migration route for both plants and animals, as well as for people. Due to the two roles of this land, refuge and migration route, Beringia significantly influenced the current shape of the world.