Where Does Arctic Char Live?

Arctic Char lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Arctic Char

Water type

freshwater

Depth

Varies from shallow littoral zones to deep profundal zones of lakes (up to 100m+), and throughout river systems. Anadromous forms spend time in coastal marine waters.

Environment

Cold, clear, highly oxygenated oligotrophic lakes, rivers, and streams. Anadromous populations migrate to coastal marine waters for feeding during summer months.

Geographic range

Circumpolar distribution in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Found in northern North America (Canada, Alaska), Greenland, Iceland, northern Europe (Scandinavia, Russia), and parts of Asia. It is the northernmost freshwater fish species.

Explore Arctic Char