It is theorized that approximately 5,000 years ago, the Canadian boreal forest resembled current forest stand structures for the most part. It never truly stayed at an equilibrium, but the distribution would have shifted up and down from it's current position. The general structure of the boreal taiga in North American regions today consists of forest-tundra (Pink on map below) at the most Northern limit. Further south the structure transitions into open lichen woodland (Red on map below), eventually leading into closed canopy (Light green on map below) further South.