What is an Igloo?
An igloo traditionally is considered to be a house made from snow or blocks of ice. It is a word in the Inuit language that means house or home, but it is not reserved exclusively for a dwelling made of snow or ice. Today, ice and snow houses are rare. For the Inuit population, a group of Eskimoan people inhabiting the Arctic from northern Alaska eastward to Greenland, igloos can include traditional tents, sod houses and even modern buildings.
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Igloo Construction
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The conventional igloo consists of blocks of ice and snow stacked in a spiral and shaped into a dome. A small hole is found at the top of the roof for ventilation. The entrance, typically perceived as a small tunnel on ground level made from the same kind of blocking construction, actually is dug into the snow so it is lower than the main chamber. The entrance traps the cold to help keep the main chamber warm.
Melting is Good
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Blocks are cut from heavily compacted snow and ice. The compacting process strengthens the structure, which is important because the house does not have any supports. The people living in the igloo help strengthen the structure. Body heat and heated stones cause the inside portion of the blocks to melt. The cold refreezes the melted water to create a sheet of ice that insulates the home.
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Warm Inside
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The interior stays warmer than outside conditions because of the snow and the inhabitants' ingenuity. The snow acts as insulation. The inhabitants decorate the interior with animal skins and furs that keep out cold.
Off the Cold Floor
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Igloo dwellers don't sit or lie on the cold floor. Usually, they construct a raised platform that contains animal skins and furs. When they are inside, they sit or sleep on this platform.
Small and Large
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Igloos built by travelers or hunters are small and temporary structures. Permanent igloos are larger, designed to accommodate an extended family. Some connect to other igloos, and some have divided rooms.
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