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.

Other kinds of snowhouses

For fun, or for winter camping and survival purposes, it is possible to construct a simpler but similar kind of snow shelter by simply creating a large pile of snow and excavating the inside. The snow need not be of the same quality, and the construction is easier (less experience needed). Such shelters are usually not as sturdy and permanent as proper igloos.

Related Topics:
Camping - Survival

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A trick to building a snowhouse much faster and with less labor is to first make a pile of cardboard boxes and then cover the box pile with snow. Then cut open a door and pull out the boxes. This means one needs to use much less snow or can build a much bigger snowhouse.

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To make the snowhouse much more robust and safer it is recommended to pour water over it so it gets covered in ice (this should be done after cutting the door since it is very hard to cut open a door in an icy house). This makes it harder and sturdier and also makes it slippery, which discourages anyone from climbing on top of it. People climbing on the house are the primary reason why snowhouses collapse. A collapsing snowhouse can be very dangerous if someone gets caught inside.

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