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How to Build an Igloo

SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult to help with tools you haven't used before.

igloo-feature

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

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Diameter: Not to exceed 10 feet. Anything bigger would require a perfect dome, which is next to impossible to construct in the field.

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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.

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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.

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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.


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49 Comments on How to Build an Igloo

  1. Hamburger

  2. Sad, we do not get a lot of snow in Texas. About less than one inch per year!!

  3. I am going to make a book about this! It is a good information source.

  4. I’m going to try this sometime soon, I’ve always wanted an igloo!

  5. i dare you to….

  6. Hey terminator,Florida will shutdown with 1 inch of snow . I live in Pennsylvania, we get great snow ⛄️❄️.

  7. Alexander4fignting // March 17, 2018 at 1:36 am // Reply

    I enjoyed a lot learning how to make a igloo but it should be more specific about the steps to make an igloo. But it was nice and the 2nd best site to learn to make an igloo and thanks a lot.

  8. My sister and I made it. It was amazing.

  9. Super banana dude // December 19, 2017 at 10:09 am // Reply

    This is awesome 👏

  10. Can you build an igloo with 16 inches of snow?

  11. i agree with snowbird also but this does look fun glad i live in utah

  12. scouter123 // March 2, 2015 at 8:56 am // Reply

    Cool, when you have snow.

  13. wish we had more than 2 inches of snow 🙁

  14. COOL! But no snow in GEORGIA:(

  15. ChesseButterBall // January 15, 2015 at 10:27 am // Reply

    That is a amazing igloo. It shows how well it is made.

  16. Boo

  17. I agree with snowbird to. I really want to make a snow cave! It’s almost Chrismas! What do you guys think?

  18. IGLOOS ARE NICE TO MAKE WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME, BUT FOR CAMPING, TRY MAKING A SNOW CAVE!

  19. it snowed 6 inches in my city

  20. Girls can do it too

  21. Jordyn & Rick // January 4, 2014 at 6:23 pm // Reply

    Really nice to know! Good effort.

  22. Tried this with my brother it works nice and warm inside

  23. kaka po po ka ka ka popo // December 18, 2013 at 7:26 pm // Reply

    cool it works me and my sis did it and it looks so cool

  24. That would probably work if it snowed more than 2 inches here!

  25. That’s so cool

  26. I kinda need 22” of snow for that.

  27. looks hard to make if you only get up 2 2ft of snow
    🙂

  28. scienceman100 // October 22, 2013 at 7:54 pm // Reply

    awsome works great i love i do it every winter

  29. awesome geek // February 2, 2013 at 4:32 pm // Reply

    Awesommee! Dude best igloo making guide ever!! Whhoo hoo

  30. Cool, it seems to keep your body heat in it

  31. My boys used 1 gal ice cream buckets packed full of snow to build their igloo and it was so great the local paper published a picture of it.

  32. I hope OH gets a little more snow this year so that I can try this.

  33. pink and purple // January 26, 2013 at 7:41 pm // Reply

    That would be awesome(:

  34. it’s AWESOME!

  35. i cannot wait to try this!

  36. it is awesom that we get snow in Mi

  37. I would like to try it if we ever get enough snow Here in RI.

  38. Cheese Greater // January 22, 2013 at 7:29 pm // Reply

    I wish there was more snow here in Minnesota so I could try this

  39. Awsome, I used it and it worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  40. GoldenDragon // January 13, 2013 at 8:00 pm // Reply

    I wish it snowed in TX more. I would like to try it.

  41. never tryed it before:]

  42. TheTrainkinzbranch // January 5, 2013 at 7:47 am // Reply

    It snows alot here in MA

  43. Doesnt everyone wish there was snow in FL then on some days we wont have any school and only a whole day of playing in the snow and just having some fun

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