An igloo is one type of residence. (The term igloo can actually refer to other kinds of residences, but since the other types, like tents or sod houses, are covered by other articles, this article focuses on ice or snow houses.) An igloo is usually constructed from snow. The snow provides shelter from the wind and insulation from the cold.
Some igloos are only a temporary shelter -- a few hours or days' protection, while others may be larger and used for a longer term. Larger igloos may include public spaces and multiple rooms for more than one family.
Although snow is cold, it is also a good insulator. Inside an igloo it can be reasonably warm and comfortable -- as warm as 16 °C (61 °F) heated by just body heat. The interior may be lined with skins and may also form an ice lining by the mix of heat inside and refreezing from the cold outside.
Related[]
References[]
- wikiHow on How to build an igloo
- Igloo building guide (built for a temporary, overnight shelter)
- Wikipedia's article on igloo