Why do eskimos live in igloos

They trap air, an bad conductor of heat, thus the heat inside wont be lost. Eskimos stay in there igloos, their body heat warms u the air inside the igloos and the air inside becomes warmer than the air outside. Both air and ice are insulators and they reduce heat loss from inside the igloos to surrounding by conduction.. An igloo is adapted to the environment due to its round shape. No corners to catch the wind or flying debris. Some igloos, like some of the ones in Canada, are made of snow blocks and take less than 2 hours to build.

Once a fire is lit inside, the innermost layer of ice melts, sealing the cracks in the ice blocks, making the house impervious to drafts. Iglu-Dorf is a chain of igloo villages in five locations across the Swiss Alps.

Standard and "romantic" igloos are available for rental during the ski season, from the end of December to the beginning of April. Some amenities include access to group sauna and Jacuzzi, fondue dinner, nighttime snowshoe walk and subzero sleeping equipment.

A few upgrades can get you a private bathroom and sheepskin rugs. In addition to standard overnight stays, Iglu-Dorf also hosts weddings, corporate events and parties.

And if you're looking for an icy room that's really luxurious, you can always make a reservation at an ice hotel. When most people think about igloos, they picture a small, dome-shaped structure built entirely out of blocks of ice. They might imagine a small tunnel leading into the igloo. Actually, this image is surprisingly accurate. We share a pretty similar perception of igloos in large part due to the many television shows and cartoons that have featured them over the years.

The classic s cartoon "Chilly Willy," about a wily and adventurous Alaskan penguin, prominently features his igloo. Overlooking the fact that penguins live neither in igloos nor in Alaska , the classic "Chilly Willy" igloo does resemble the most basic igloos inhabited by Inuit hunters.

However, igloos can vary widely from the popular image. In fact, an igloo can range from as small as a one-person hunting shelter to large, ceremonial structures joined to smaller igloos. The innovative architect can also create igloo villages by building attaching corridors and walls. This effectively turns a single-family dwelling into a multiroom compound capable of housing 20 people. 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 longer-term, 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. Snow: the Miracle Insulator Snow is a relatively easy material to work with for the experienced igloo-maker.

It is packed tightly by the freezing winds common to the areas inhabited by Inuit. Snow is easy to cut and surprisingly sturdy, and snow blocks are also pretty lightweight.

Still, snow is pretty cold, so many people are skeptical of the igloo's ability to keep its occupants from freezing to death. The truth is, inhabitants might not be able to lounge around in their underwear, but they can exist comfortably inside an igloo, and a subzero sleeping bag can take the edge off.

The igloo has stood the test of time as a living establishment. Some experts say that a well-constructed 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. It accomplishes this amazing feat thanks to several features:. 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. Learn how on the next page. Although some Inuit still use igloos for temporary shelter, they are far less common than they were just a few decades ago. While some hunters generally pitch tents when they are out on the land, others still find the igloo a practical shelter.

Once a solid, flat location with pukaangajuq referring to snowhouse snow has been chosen, igloo builders use knives made out of whale bone or metal and other tools to cut out large blocks of snow. These blocks form the inward-leaning walls of the igloo. Builders construct the igloo around this space, in a spiral fashion and from within the soon-to-be snow house. Narrow passageways, sometimes dug just below ground level, provide entry to the igloo.

Snow blocks are used to cover the entrance way, functioning as doors. Windows can be built into the igloo using lake ice or a clear piece of gut skin from a seal. Builders leave a hole at the entrance and at the top of the igloo so that heat can escape.

After construction is complete, the builders fill in any gaps with snow to keep it warm on the inside. Temperatures inside igloos are often just above freezing, although temperatures can get as high as about 15 degrees Celsius, depending on the number of people inside and if there is a heat source, such as an oil lamp. In the past, Inuit generally kept on their warm, fur-lined clothes while inside the igloo during the day, including boots, jackets, gloves and hats.

At night, they would sleep on or wrapped in heavy furs to stay warm. At the centre of social life in the igloo was oil lamp, around which the Inuit cooked, ate, warmed up and socialized.

Igloos hold cultural importance for the Inuit. Some elders teach young Inuit how to build igloos as a part of a larger lesson about living off the land. Many curricula in the North , and particularly in Nunavut , have incorporated traditional Inuit knowledge into various teachings.

In , the Nunavut government passed the Education Act , which allows for qualified Inuit elders to teach skills like igloo-building in schools. Various places in the North, such as Iqaluit and Arviat , also hold igloo-building competitions at different times of the year.

In these ways, the igloo is not a relic of the past, but an object of cultural value in the present.