An igloo is a sort of dwelling made of snow, mostly by Inuits. An igloo is a domed structure composed of compacted snow bricks. Igloos, which are totally made of snow blocks, were largely erected by Inuit communities in portions of Canada and Greenland. Although wood is often used as a framework for building igloos, the majority are constructed of compacted snow.
Inuit people used to live in igloos because it was easier to build an ice wall to protect their homes from wind and rain. Now they make use of more modern materials such as plastic and metal. But even today, many Inuit people in Arctic regions do not have access to these materials and therefore must build their own igloos.
There are several methods used by Inuit people to construct an igloo. Sometimes they take advantage of natural rock formations and place the rocks at the right location before adding more layers of snow on top. This process allows them to create an insulated house without using any tools other than their hands.
Sometimes Inuit people build their igloos according to certain designs that show how the rooms are going to be arranged. These drawings can be simple sketches or more detailed blueprints. Once the design has been decided, the Inuit people go out into the field with just a few items including needles and threads used to sew the different parts of the dome together.
The igloo, which is generally formed of blocks of snow and is dome-shaped, is primarily used in the area between the Mackenzie River delta and Labrador, where Inuit live in sealskin or, more recently, fabric tents during the summer. An Inuit constructs an igloo at an ice hunting spot in Jones Sound, Nunavut, Canada. The image was taken by NASA astronaut Dan Bowers from aboard the International Space Station on April 6, 2015.
Igloos can be as small as a loaf of bread or as large as several cars. They are usually about 4 feet high and 6 feet in diameter, but these sizes are not fixed; instead, they depend on how much material is available for building them. Each Inuk family has a unique design for their igloos that reflects who they are and what they value. An igloo can be as simple or complex as needed, depending on what materials are available and what skills the Inuit have that could help make one.
Igloos were originally built as shelters against the harsh Canadian Arctic climate, but now they are also used as stores for food and supplies. An igloo can be occupied for up to six months at a time while the Inuit are away hunting or traveling.
There are three main types of igloos: the common igloo, the ground igloo, and the stone igloo.
The common igloo is the most popular type among Inuit families.
The igloo, also known as aputiak, is a temporary winter housing or hunting-ground dwelling of Canadian and Greenland Inuit (Eskimos). They are typically made from snow and ice, although sometimes wood is used instead. The word "igloo" comes from the Inuktitut words iyak, meaning "ice", and ku, meaning "house". It is thought to be an adaptation of the Chinese yi, meaning "big".
The Inuit built many different types of snow houses over the years. Some were large enough for several families to live in, while others were small and only big enough for one person or even a small family group. Some were made out of stone, some out of wood, and some used both materials together. But no matter what type it was, every Inuit snow house had four common features: a roof, walls, a door, and windows. A roof provides protection from the elements; walls keep out the cold and animals; a door allows people in and out; and windows let in light and air.
Snow houses have been used by the Inuit for thousands of years.
Igloos were never intended to be permanent residences for the Inuit. During the frigid winter months, a big igloo may accommodate one or more families. During the summer, the same families were housed in tent-like structures. Today, the Inuit generally live in wooden dwellings. However, some still prefer ice houses over others.
An igloo is a hollow structure built with blocks of frozen water that expands and contracts as it melts and freezes during the year. An igloo can be as large as 80 feet in diameter and 18 feet high. They are usually made out of snow and ice, although wood is now used instead. The walls are typically 4 to 6 feet thick and covered in plaster to make them fireproof. A hole about 2 feet wide and 5 feet high is left at the entrance for breathing and cooking.
Inuit people lived in igloos because it was the only way to keep warm during the long winters. Igloos were first built by hunters who needed a safe place to sleep while they were away from their campsite hunting. Because animals hide in caves or holes in the ground when it gets cold, hunters would build an igloo near these shelters and stay in it until the weather improved enough for them to go back out again.
People started building larger and larger igloos to stay in longer than before.
However, Inuit hunters who go far from their villages continue to construct igloo shelters.
In the Arctic, houses are usually made of ice and snow. They can be as large as 20 feet long and 6 feet wide. Although wood is used sometimes for heaters and cooking food, most often the Arctic people rely on their ice houses for shelter.
An ice house is simply a small hut built of ice and snow. It can be as simple as a tiny box with only one door and one window or it can be a large mansion with many rooms and balconies. No matter what size, all ice houses have two things in common: they are completely made of ice and they provide shelter from the elements.
People in the Arctic enjoy hunting, fishing, and gathering wild foods. Because there is no other way to make money, they also trade with others who have jobs that can help them earn cash. In fact, trading is so important that some tribes will not eat anything they have not first traded for.
Arctic residents have always lived by the rule that you need fire to cook your food or build your house.