How to Build an Igloo
The best-known snow shelter is the igloo. A brilliant use of engineering and resources, this simple dome made out of snow blocks is both strong and versatile.
Arctic cultures such as the Eskimo and the Inuit developed it, and over time they came up with a hundred tricks to make the shelter more comfortable and sturdy, including making the entrance small (to help keep heat in) and melting the inside of the dome and letting it refreeze (for increased strength).
BUILDING AN IGLOO
Diameter: Not to exceed 10 feet. Anything bigger would require a perfect dome, which is next to impossible to construct in the field.
Materials: Top layers of dry powder won’t work. Pack mounds of snow until they harden, or cut blocks of snow from the depth where your feet stop sinking.
Entrance: Build a door in the ground, about 18 inches lower than the ground inside the igloo, and tunnel below the wall into the igloo. For proper ventilation, never seal or close the entrance.
Walls: Cut the blocks into a spiral layer, leaning one block against the next. Keep the interior wall smooth so moisture can run down the side of the wall, instead of dripping from the ceiling. Include a vent hole to allow for better circulation.
cool
This is awsome it works
it works
awsome
I can’t wait to make one….
why is the first layer start out with a slant i know it makes the other layers spiral. why does the spiral help with the moisture
awesome, just plain awesome!!!!
i love it
This Igloo Rocks!
no snow here! but cool…
We no have no more snow in NC.
lots of snow in colorado today! I’ll give it a shot cause it’s that wet heavy snow
me and my friend are going to try these in canada
I think it is Relly cool!
it makes a good clubhouse to hide ur stuf in
the snow already melted here in alpine NY
This Really doesn’t work I tried it the sides were not next to eachother it looked terrible.
sweet info
i’m going to use this for a school project. thanks Boy’s Life!
wear some warm gloves and be safe
to bild a igloo you need to have thick snow to bild a igloo. have good luck
I want to try but my sister has to make a snow man SO I’ll get up eary.
we never get snow in hawaii!!!
if only texas got snow…
i want snow
First i need a lot of snow that is only if there is a snow storm in Ohio.
It worked great, the under ground door was so cool, i even made some
shelfs because i made my snow wall, brick things a foot thick
It just snowed again and we already have tons of snow. We’re going to try this in a week or two.
im just need to finnish the top
wish i lived were there was snow
I am making a igloo right now outside because in minnesota we are getting a snowstorm right now.
I live in MN we get tons of snow tough night we are supposed to get 6-8 inches of snow 4 days ago we got 6 inches this will work great
cool
I made one of ice last year.
i wish that my troup could do that
if you get 2-4″ of snow.. snow blow all the snow to a 15′ x 15′ area.. you should have about 3′ of snow then.. pack this down and lightly mist with water.. let this freeze a few hours… Then cut the blocks to build using the snow from the inside of the igloo
COOL
I do not get much snow where i live but i’ll try it!
this looks so cool. we don’t have any snow in pennsylvania rite now though
bummer, this will never work in houston! last time we had snow was 2 years ago and it only stayed on cars!
That looks cool! I’ll have to try it later.
I don’t have anymore snow outside.
my snow JUST meted!!!!!!
Cool!!!
i’ll try this someday but too bad i live in a part of Pennsylvania where i almost get no perfect snowstorms
thats wikid
i tried this too and cant make one because there is not a very deep depth of snow
also are there instructions 4 building a igloo with a above ground door
hi this is so cool
it works!