IGLOO

In this opportunity, my group is going to talk about the igloo. Most students would have chosen
another public construction to discuss about, but we have come to bringing a new topic here,
something thats never been thought or talked. Everybody knows it, but nobody would ever
wonder about it. Igloo is widely known as the house of the Eskimo people. Have you ever had
any idea going on in your head about igloo, how does it works, or how the Eskimo survive
inside? Then in this two thousand and five hundred words paper, were going to explain it all.
Igloo is a construction that has existed for centuries in mankinds life. For us who live in a
tropical country, maybe it is not a big deal, but for the Eskimo, it definitely is a big deal. It helps
them to survive from the wild Arctic land and give them some truly useful advantages from the
Arctic environment. And also, igloo has a unique structure that it is made of ice. We are very sure
that most people will give such huge interest in our topic. Though igloo is not entirely applicable
in this tropical country, but still our major aim is that we want to share some knowledge here. We
want to acknowledge people about a construction that has existed for centuries and never being
actually discussed.
First of all, what is the exact definition of igloo? According to the Wikipedia, igloo (Inuit
language: iglu, plural: iglooit or igluit) or snowhouse is a type of shelter built of snow, originally
built by the Inuit. Although igloos are usually associated with all Inuit, they were mainly
constructed by people of Canada's Central Arctic and Greenland's Thule area. Other Inuit people
tended to use snow to insulate their houses, which were constructed from whalebone and hides.
Snow is used because the air pockets trapped in it make it an insulator. On the outside,
temperatures may be as low as 45 C (49 F), but on the inside the temperature may range
from 7 C (19 F) to 16 C (61 F) when warmed by body heat alone. The Inuit are a group of
culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada. In Alaska, the term
Eskimo is commonly used, because it includes both Yupik and Inupiat, while Inuit is not accepted
as a collective term or even specifically used for Inupiat (who technically are Inuit). No universal
term other than Eskimo, inclusive of all Inuit and Yupik people, exists for the Inuit and Yupik
peoples

So, back about the igloo. You might be wondering how a house made of snow could possibly
shield Inuit hunters from frigid temperatures. After all, snow is pretty cold -- and aren't igloos
meant to counteract the cold? You may also be wondering why the Inuit would subject
themselves to these icy conditions in the first place. But there's a reason why they made their
homes in these areas.
In this paper, you'll learn how igloos are built and how the properties of snow helped the
ingenious Inuit create a low-cost, low-effort shelter. We'll also discuss the truth about some
common igloo-related myths, as well as the basics of how to build your own igloo.

Bundle up and brace yourself because igloos aren't just picturesque mounds of snow dotting the
frozen landscape -- there's a whole lot to them. We'll start by learning about the Inuit, inventors
of the igloo.
the snow used to build an igloo must have enough structural strength to be cut and stacked
appropriately. The best snow to use for this purpose is snow which has been blown by wind,
which can serve to compact and interlock the ice crystals. The hole left in the snow where the
blocks are cut is usually used as the lower half of the shelter. Sometimes, a short tunnel is
constructed at the entrance to reduce wind and heat loss when the door is opened. Because of
snow's excellent insulating properties, inhabited igloos are surprisingly comfortable and warm
inside. In some cases, a single block of ice is inserted to allow light into the igloo. Animal skins
were used as door flaps to keep warm air in. Igloos used as winter shelters had beds made of
snow, covered with twigs and caribou furs.
There are three traditional types of igloos, all of different sizes and all used for different
purposes.

The smallest was constructed as a temporary shelter, usually only used for one or two
nights. These were built and used during hunting trips, often on open sea ice.

Intermediate-sized igloos were for semi-permanent, family dwelling. This was usually a
single room dwelling that housed one or two families. Often there were several of these
in a small area, which formed an Inuit village.

The largest igloos were normally built in groups of two. One of the buildings was a
temporary structure built for special occasions, the other built nearby for living. These
might have had up to five rooms and housed up to 20 people. A large igloo might have
been constructed from several smaller igloos attached by their tunnels, giving common
access to the outside. These were used to hold community feasts and traditional dances.

Smaller igloos are typically used by Inuit for fishing and hunting trips, as we've
discussed. The larger, more permanent structures were created to form villages for longerterm, although still temporary, needs. Some of the largest villages boasted halls for
special occasions such as dances and feasts. Most igloos are self-sustaining due to the
strength of ice. But when spring hits, the sun and warmer temperatures turn igloos to
slush. It's best to steer clear of defrosting igloos to avoid being caught in a cave-in.

The igloo has stood the test of time as a living establishment. Some experts say that a wellconstructed igloo, coupled with a very small oil lamp and plain old body heat, can warm an igloo
up to 40 degrees above the outside temperature. Hypothetically, if it is -40C outside, the igloo
has the potential to warm up to 0C. It accomplishes this amazing feat thanks to several features:

The walls block the wind, which is often so bitter that it can make freezing temperatures
feel many degrees colder.

Snow and ice work as insulators to trap body heat inside the igloo. Thus, the occupants of
an igloo double as a furnace of sorts.

Insulation capabilities actually increase a few days after construction. Body heat and sun
exposure cause the inside of the igloo to melt ever so slightly. When the igloo is
unoccupied during hunting expeditions, the melted snow freezes over, turning into ice.
Several days of gradual thawing and refreezing turns the entire structure to solid ice,
making it not only superstrong, but also warmer than ever.

It should be noted that the right type of snow is necessary to build an igloo. The soft, powdery
stuff that falls in most backyards is not hard or packed tightly enough to build a reliable igloo.
But if you're lucky enough to find the right kind of snow, you can try your hand at making your
own igloo.
We found some stuffs on the internet about building the igloo, take a read.
How to Build an Igloo
Although some Inuit still use igloos for temporary shelter, they are far less common than they
were just a few decades ago. However, many skiers and outdoor enthusiasts construct them to
avoid the elements during camping and ski trips. The Inuit designed the igloo to be warm, sturdy
and easy to construct. All it takes is a few simple tools, an abundance of snow and a little
patience. The experienced igloo builder can put one together in as little as one hour. Novice igloo
builders can expect it to take an average of three to six hours.
Constructing an igloo usually requires at least two people. Please note that this is a very basic
description of how an igloo can be constructed and shouldn't take the place of instruction from
an experienced builder. Don't head to the top of a mountain with nothing but a printout of these
instructions!
Recommended tools:

Snow saw or large knife

Snow shovel or snow spade

A couple pairs of waterproof gloves

1. Find an area with a lot of dry, hard-packed snow. Use the snow saw or knife to cut
large blocks -- the harder the snow is, the more solid the snow blocks will be.
Your snow blocks should be about 3 feet long, 15 inches high and 8 inches deep,
according to "The Complete Wilderness Training Guide." Construction begins
with the cutting of snow blocks. In most areas snow falls without compacting

enough to allow blocks to be cut. Tramp an area the size of your intended snow
block quarry for at least 15 to 30 minutes, then let it rest a half hour. Compaction
causes the small ice crystals of snow to melt. These quickly refreeze, forming a
more solid building material. The size of the blocks you cut will depend upon two
things:
1. How heavy a block are you able to comfortably handle? Your strength and the
moisture content of the compacted snow will provide some practical limits to the
size of the block.
2. How strong is the compacted snow? In areas where layers of snow have thawed
and refrozen, there may be ice layers in the snow. These layers make the snow
blocks fragile. If such blocks must be used, they will have to be thicker than those
cut from blocks without ice layers. Well compacted, low moisture snow can be cut
into large thin blocks.
Your quarry may be the area over which the igloo is built. With this plan the quarry forms
the floor of the igloo. The floor of the igloo is below ground level. Since entry ways are
best set below the level of the igloo floor, further excavation forms the entryway.
Planning your igloo site on a hillside facilitates this process.
If a number of people are helping to build the igloo, using the floor as the quarry may
cause too much congestion. A nearby quarry will work better and the floor can be quickly
excavated with a snow shovel.
Regardless of where your quarry is situated, you will need the snow shovel to excavate a
hole or trench. This is the only way to reach the underside of the first blocks to cut them
free.
Once blocks are cut, construction begins as an upward spiral. When building on a hill, the
slope of the hill can be used to ease the angle of the beginning spiral.
2. Smooth the edges of the blocks. Place them in a circle, working your way up.
Blocks should decrease in size as you work upwards. Using your shovel or saw,
cut a hole under the wall to create the igloo's entrance.

3. Overlap the blocks and shape them to lean inward, creating the dome. The blocks
should support each other in order to prevent the dome from collapsing. If
necessary, use a stick or other support in the interior to support the blocks at the

top until the dome is finished. Many illustrations imply that igloo construction
follows the rules for masonry. I have seen a lot of illustrations which imply blocks
are of a standard size and shape. When building with snow blocks, each block is
shaped after it is cut from the quarry. The shape of an individual block depends on
the position in the spiral where it will be placed. Near the floor, where the block
may not be angled inward more than a few degrees, blocks are rectangular in
shape. Near the center of the roof, where the blocks are nearly horizontal, their
shape may be nearly triangular.

4. Once all the blocks except the last one have been placed, find a block that is
slightly too large for the last opening on top. Place it on top of the igloo and
wiggle it into place, shaping as needed. It should be shaped to fit exactly in the
opening. The final blocks must usually be set from the inside. The last is tilted on
end, then turned and brought down into place like the lid on a Jack-O-Lantern.
After the final block is set, shovel snow onto the igloo. Gently pack it into holes
and crevices. Avoid applying pressure from the inside while filling cracks.
Protruding edges may be carefully trimmed on the inside surface. A smooth inner
surface prevents dripping as the inside temperature rises above freezing. After a
night or two of warming from the inside and refreezing the igloo will be very
strong.

5. Shovel loose snow onto the igloo. Pack it into all of the crevices. Smooth the
inside of the igloo by hand and shovel out any extra snow.

6. Finish the entrance by digging a hole in the shape of the desired entrance (some
igloo aficionados prefer L-shaped entrances because they keep the wind out
better). The entry is often most easily done after the blocks are all set. At least it is

easy if there is more than one of you. Having set the last block, someone is now
inside the closed igloo. They can take a rest while the others cut an entrance down
slope from the edge of the igloo. The top of the entry is ideally at the floor level,
so one climbs up onto the floor upon entering. This provides a nice heat trap.
Open a vent high on the side of the igloo wall to vent carbon dioxide, especially if
you are cooking inside. Then cover the hole with snow blocks.

7. You must cut ventilation holes in the walls and roof to prevent suffocation. Air
holes also prevent body heat from causing dangerous levels of carbon dioxide.
So, some buildings have applied the concept of the igloo construction, for example theres an
igloo hotel named Igloo Village in Finland. Some other building thats formed like a dome is
using the igloo construction too, only the material is using another material except ice.
I guess that was all from my group, I hope that could acknowledge you enough about the igloo
construction.