How to Make an Igloo

What if you are stuck in a snowy place with lots of snow and nowhere to be warm. The cold weather and constantly dipping temperature is freezing. You need to find some way to survive the cold. This is the condition of the people who live in snow. They build igloos and stay inside it till the weather gets warm. Igloos are houses made out of snow. These houses are specially made by the people who live in very cold climates, called Inuits. Although these igloos are made up of compact snow or ice, the temperature inside can range from -7ºC to 16ºC even if the temperature outside is dipping to -45ºC or so. So, aren't you curious to know how to make an igloo and what are its qualities which help it to maintain a high temperature inside it? Just keep reading...

How to Build an Igloo?

By now you know what is an igloo, now let's start with how to build an igloo. Although the construction of igloo is simple, it requires a lot of hard work. As it is made in a cold atmosphere you need to have the strength to cut the ice and make a correct structure which will help you in your survival. Following are the steps to make an igloo, but before that find out what things you will require in its making.

Things Required

• Snow saw or snow cutter
• Snow shovel
• Waterproof gloves or mittens
• Measuring tape

Process of Making an Igloo

• First of all, clear a flat space on the snow and make a circle. Try to make it as accurate as you can, this will support the structure.
• Now you need to dig a hole which should be comfortable for one or two people. Now cut the block of the snow. These snow blocks should be hard and compact. Use the snow saw to cut the snow block. You will need snow blocks in two sizes. One should be approximately 12" long, 6" high and 4" or 5" wide and the other may be 10" long, 5" high and 3" or 4" wide.
• Now start building the igloo by putting the large blocks first in the circle. The construction of the igloo should start in a spiral manner. When the bottom layer or the first layer is completed, check for cracks and fill snow inside them, if any. This will make the surface smooth and the cracks will also be filled. You should keep this part in mind as there is no mortar to bind the blocks together.
• Now start with the second layer on top of the first layer. Keep each block on the joint of the layer underneath. Keep the brink slightly in, so as to give your igloo a dome shape.
• As you go upward, you may require small blocks. Here the other block will come in use. Don't forget to put snow in between the layers.
• Now when you reach the top most part where you require just a cap on the igloo to pack it completely, cut a block according to the size of the hole but definitely bigger than the hole. Now put the block on the igloo from outside. Once the cap is placed on top of the hole, go inside the dome and trim the block so that the block fits the hole completely and properly.
• Now with the help of snow fill the gaps and cracks from inside the dome and make it smooth. Make longitudinal groves and from inside the snow. This will make the melted snow to fall at the corners instead of dropping on you.
• Now make entrance by digging the snow. Make it in a slope so that the cold air remains outside and the hot air remains inside the dome. Make a roof over the entrance which will help in keeping the cold air away from the igloo.
• Make a ventilation hole with the help of the snow saw. Ventilation is very important as it restricts the build up of carbon-dioxide inside the igloo.
• If you want more rooms then follow the same procedure and connect them with each other.

Your igloo is ready with a solid structure. As the snow falls on it, the surface will become more smooth and air tight. Your body temperature will make the temperature of the igloo rise and the temperature will be maintained between -7ºC to 16ºC even if the temperature outside remains -45ºC. So, keep all the steps in mind and be ready for any such circumstances.