Today, many Inuits live in homes made from wood, drywall, and metal. However, when they didn’t have access to many of the modern housing materials of today, igloos were a viable option for sheltering from the cold of winter.
Igloos served mostly as temporary housing. Similar to the tepee that many Native Americans used, the igloo served as a structure to protect Inuits from the elements. In fact, a structure large enough to house up to five people could be assembled by two in about an hour.
Usually, they were used on hunting excursions, although the ability to build them depended largely on the type of snow around. A thick, wet snow that was easy to compact was required to build them and make them last.
Build up
To assemble an igloo, the Inuits would use larger blocks at the base and use smaller pieces as they built up. Blocks around three feet long, two feet high, and eight inches thick were used to form the walls. Any bigger and the blocks could be too heavy to lift; any smaller and they wouldn’t provide as much protection.
Drill out
Once built, Inuits would drill holes through the sides using their hunting tools. This allowed carbon dioxide from breathing and carbon monoxide from any fuel-burning equipment to escape. The holes were important because some Inuits used large mounds of snow to semi-seal the entrance to more effectively block the wind.
Let it sit
Inside, temperatures could be as much as 40 degrees warmer than outside. During the day, the outer layer of snow would melt under the heat of the sun. At night, it would refreeze adding an extra layer of insulation, actually making the igloos warmer on the second and third nights.
The most popular design used was the dome-shaped structure because it was the easiest to build. However, several other designs were used as well, including rectangular and cylindrical. To increase the room inside, the Inuits would sometimes dig snow out from the floor. Additionally, when the Inuits traveled in packs, they would sometimes build small connected units capable of housing upwards of 20 people.
Anyone can build an igloo with a little patience and basic structural knowledge. You should try it when the next major snow storm blows through your town!
Featured Image from Aleksandra Sapozhnikova/Unsplash
