Igloo

An igloo (Inuktitut iglu / ᐃᒡᓗ, "house"), translated sometimes as snowhouse, is a shelter constructed from blocks of snow, generally in the form of a dome. Igloos are most commonly associated with the indigenous Inuit of Canada's far north, where they were used as temporary shelters by hunters during the winter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The snow used to build an igloo must have sufficient structural strength to be cut and stacked in the appropriate manner. 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 from 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. Due to snow's excellent insulative properties, inhabited igloos are surprisingly comfortable inside.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Central Eskimos, especially those around the Davis Strait, line the living area with skin, which can increase the temperature within from around 2?C to 10-20?C.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Architecturally, the igloo is unique in that it is a dome that can be raised out of independent blocks leaning on each other and polished to fit without an existing supporting structure.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Because "igloo", or iglu in standard orthography, is simply the Inuktitut word for a house of any kind, since the twentieth century a snowhouse in Inuktitut is frequently called an igluvigaq, or igluvigait in plural, in distinction.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Inuktitut: Inuktitut (Inuktitut syllabics: ??????, literally "like the Inuit") is the name of the varieties of Inuit language spoken in Canada. It is spoken in all areas north of the treeline, including parts of the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and to some extent in northeastern Manitoba as w...

Shelter: Shelter can refer to several things:...

Snow: Snow is precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes. Since it is composed of small rough particles it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by external pressure....

Igloo related Images and Photos (experimental)

Commander Pearys Igloo is Marked by an American Flag on Top and Surrounded by Scattered Supplies