Igloo Facts
Igloos, or snow houses, are remarkable structures built by many cultures living in particularly cold and snowy areas. Made from the very ice and snow dominating the landscape, they provided an ingenious shelter from the frigid temperatures for families and whole communities. Their unique structure and use lead to them having several interesting properties.
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Basics
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The term "igloo" is derived from the Inuit word "iglu," which simply means "house." Igloos became highly used by the Inuit and other civilizations because of their general convenience. A skilled builder could construct one in about an hour, and the igloo could withstand great forces, whether it be a fierce Arctic wind or a polar bear.
Form
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The igloo is built with blocks of snow that has been compressed and is especially compact. The snow is cut, usually with a saw or knife, and shaped to fit a particular position. No other supports or tools are needed in the igloo's construction. The blocks are used in spirals to form a dome shape. The igloo will usually be built into a snow drift, with a hole left in the ceiling for ventilation of smoke, and the entrance will be built below the igloo itself, with a short tunnel leading out to the open air.
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Function
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The purpose of a lowered entrance, like most features of the igloo, is to keep warm air in. The lowered entrance creates a "cold trap" in which body and fire heat cannot escape. The compacted snow will melt on the inside, but the water will fall down the domed walls and soon refreeze, creating an additional support and insulator. With the fresh snow falling on the outside, this cycle makes a continuous loop that keeps the igloo an effective shelter. Sometimes, blankets can be hung on the outside of the igloo for additional insular effects.
Use
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Smaller igloos can be used as temporary structures for hunters and travelers, because of their ease of construction. Usually, though, permanent igloos are large and house an entire family. Occasionally, several families inhabit one igloo. Many times, the bigger igloos are connected through tunnels and the entire community can move through for festivals and celebrations.
History
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The igloos have been in use by Inuit and certain Native North American tribes for centuries. Their use has not spread much beyond these regions. Pictures of igloos have been found for centuries, as when the explorer Martin Frobisher noted them in his journey in the 16th century. The oldest film of an igloo being built is "Nanook of the North," where the details of an igloo's construction are given.
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