How Inuit Build a Real Inuit Igloo in 2 Hours

[Music] while Igloo might seem like just cool looking snoow houses to most people they represent an ingenious survival technology that allowed Inuit communities to thrive in harsh Arctic conditions these remarkable structures can maintain indoor temperatures around 60° fah even when outside temperatures has plunged to- 50° fah such an impressive feat doesn't happen by accident it's the result of thousands of years of architectural knowledge of Inuit Builders from Emergency Shelters during hunting trips to seasonal homes igloos demonstrate how traditional knowledge can create comfort in one of Earth's most challenging environments the history of igloo stretches back

over 4,000 years proving that good housing ideas really can stand the test of time the word itself comes from igloo in the innuit language which simply means house though these days saying Igloo house would be like saying house house while movies often show all innuit people living in Igloo year round that's about as accurate as claiming everyone in Texas lives on a ranch in reality igloos were mainly used as temporary shelters during hunting trips a practice that continues among modern Inuit Hunters these skilled Builders can construct an emergency igloo in just a couple of hours

which sure beats pitching a tent in- 40° fahit weather but enough with the history lesson let's dive into how you can start building an igloo why ourself building an igloo isn't as simple as piling up any old snow it requires a specific type of snow the secret lies in what scientists call cented snow which forms when wind packs snow crystals so tightly together that they actually Bond at a molecular level this isn't your average fluffy snowman material we're talking about snow so compact you can barely stick your finger into it the Inuit have developed a

clever method to find this perfect snow known as the stick test they walk around poking a tradition hunting stick into different snow Banks looking for a very specific feeling of resistance if the stick slides in too easily that snow is too soft if they can't push it in at all that snow is too hard they're looking for that just right Zone where the stick meets firm resistance but can still penetrate the snow here's a mind-blowing stat experienced Inuit Builders often test up to 40 different spots before finding the ideal snow for their Igloo that's a

lot of poking around but it's absolutely crucial using the wrong type of snow would be like trying to build a brick house out of crackers when they find the right spot they've struck white gold this perfectly compressed snow is actually stronger than you might think under the right conditions blocks cut from cented snow can be stronger than concrete of the same thickness thanks to the intricate network of ice crystals that form under pressure the science behind this is fascinating when snow gets compacted just right the individual snowflakes partially melt and refreeze creating tiny ice Bridges

between them this process transforms fluffy snow into a material material that's both lightweight and incredibly strong now that we' found our perfect Building Material let's talk about the tools we'll need to work with it when it comes to building an igloo you don't need a contractor's truck full of fancy tools the traditional Inuit managed with just a few essential items the star of the show is the legendary snow knife called a Pana in inti toot this isn't your ordinary butter knife that's had a tough day in the freezer the Pana is a specialized tool with

a long wide blade that's specifically designed for cutting shaping snow blocks think of it as a Snow sword that would make any winter warrior proud while many traditional Inuit Builders still swear by the paana some Modern Igloo Architects have started using Carpenter saws it's kind of like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone both get the job done but one might make things a bit easier the saw needs to be at least 2 ft long to cut through the thick snow blocks properly and no your garden hedge trimmer won't cut it literally besides the

main cutting tool you'll need a snow shovel for clearing the building site and Gathering loose snow this isn't just about keeping keep your workspace tidy the loose snow becomes crucial later for filling gaps between blocks you'll also need a measuring stick about 2 ft long traditional Builders often use their forearm as a natural measuring tool which works surprisingly well unless you happen to be built like a T-Rex one tool that often surprises people is a pair of snow goggles the Inuit traditionally made these from Caribou antler or wood with narrow slits to see through they're

not trying to look cool though they definitely do but rather protecting their eyes from snow blindness the white snow reflects so much sunlight that working without eye protection would be like staring at a giant Frozen disco ball now that we've got our toolkit sorted out it's time to focus on the foundation where every great Igloo Begins the foundation of an igloo is like a first date if you mess it up everything that follows is doomed that's why innuit Builders spend more time on this step than any other part of the construction process first they clear

the site down to hard packed snow and Mark out a perfect circle using a clever technique passed down through generation one Builder stands at the center point holding one end of a rope that's cut to the desired Igloo radius a second person walks around holding the other end Tau marking the circle in the snow like a human Compass drawing in Nature's graph paper the next step is cutting the snow blocks and size really does matter here traditional Inuit Builders cut blocks roughly 2 ft long 1 ft high and 8 in thick these aren't random measurements

they're carefully calculated to be both manageable to lift and enough to support the structure getting these blocks just right is crucial a wobbly Block in your foundation is like wearing mismatched socks to a job interview it might not be immediately obvious but it's going to cause problems later the first block placement is arguably the most critical moment in Igloo construction this Cornerstone block needs to be placed at a slight angle leaning inward about 15° miss this angle and your igloo might end up looking more like a snow pile with aspirations Builders cut the bottom of

this first block at an angle creating what Engineers would call a positive angle of attack though the Inuit had figured this out long before modern engineering came along each subsequent Foundation block follows the same angle creating a complete circle that already hints at the Dome shape to come with the foundation set we're ready to start building upward where things get really interesting creating the signature Dome of an iGo is where building turns into an art form it's like playing jenger in Reverse but with snow and if you win you get a house each row of

blocks needs to spiral upward and inward at just the right angle creating that classic Dome shape we all know the mathematics behind this is pretty incredible each block needs to lean inward about 2 in more than the block below it over time this creates a perfect spiral that would make any mathematician's heart skip a beat as the walls rise the blocks get progressively smaller it's not just to make things look nice this size reduction serves a crucial engineering purpose larger blocks at the bottom provide a stable Foundation while smaller blocks at the top reduce weight

and pressure on the structure think of it like a pyramid scheme but one that actually works and doesn't end with your arms trying to sell you essential oils here's a mindboggling statistic in a properly built Igloo each snow block carries just the right amount of weight to compress it slightly making it stronger without crushing it the pressure on the bottom blocks is typically around 10 lb per square inch anymore and they'd crumble any less and they wouldn't Bond properly it's like Nature's version of a self-tightening knot now let's talk about the rookie mistakes that can

turn your dream Dome into a snow pile the most common error is not maintaining a consist consistent inward spiral if one block Strays too far in or out it throws off the entire geometry another classic blunder is making the blocks too thin to save time that's like trying to build a brick house with crackers some firsttime Builders also forget to angle their Cuts properly creating gaps that weaken the structure and perhaps the most tempting mistake is rushing the process when you're getting tired remember a hasty Igloo Builder soon ends up with an unexpected skylight with

the Dome nearly complete we're approaching the most crucial moment in Igloo construction placing the Keystone block that will lock everything geg together the final block of an igloo dramatically nicknamed The King block is the architectural equivalent of threading a needle while wearing mittens it requires Precision patience and maybe a little bit of luck this single block is responsible for locking the entire Dome together transforming a spiral of snow blocks into a self-supporting structure it's like the last piece of a puzzle except this puzzle is supporting several hundred lounds of snow over your head the technique

for cutting and placing the king block is a masterclass in Precision first you need to cut it slightly larger than the hole it's meant to fill we're talking about half an inch of wiggle room here then comes the tricky part the block needs to be carefully shaped like a truncated pyramid wider at the top than the bottom this isn't just architectural showing off this shape creates a wedging action that locks the entire Dome together kind of like the last piece in an arch bridge the placement process is where things get really interesting the block needs

to be maneuvered through the hole from the outside and then rotated into position imagine trying to get a couch through a narrow doorway but you're working upside down in the cold with a block of snow that could break if you sneeze too hard here's a humbling statistic even experienced Inuit Builders sometimes need two or three attempts to get this final piece just right for firsttime Builders the success rate for placing the king block correctly on the first try hovers around 10% once the king block is in place there's often a tense moment of silence as

everyone waits to see if it holds when it does the feeling of a accomplishment is unmatched you've just completed one of the most ingenious architectural designs in human history of course there's still work to be done inside the igloo but getting that final Block in place is worthy of a celebration just try not to cheer too loudly you don't want your Victory shout to bring down the house you just built with the King block securely in place it's time to focus on the interior this is where your snow shelter transforms from a basic Dome into

a cozy Arctic apartment the first crucial addition is the cold trap entrance which might sound like something from a spy movie but is actually an ingenious piece of engineering the entrance tunnel is built slightly lower than the igloo floor creating a natural trap for cold air since cold air sinks it pools in this lower section instead of rising into the living space it's like having a bouncer that only stops cold air from getting into the party the ventilation hole is another critical feature that often surprises people yes you need ventilation in a snow housee a

small hole about the size of your fist is carved near the top of the Dome this isn't poor planning it's essential for preventing Suffocation and managing humidity without it your cozy snow shelter would quickly become a foggy Igloo SAA and not in a good way here's where things get really interesting the interior temperature of a properly built Igloo can be up to 40° fah warmer than the outside air when it's- 40° fah outside the interior can maintain a relatively barmy 32° fah which might not sound warm until you've spent a few hours in Arctic conditions

body heat plays a crucial role in this warming process but here's the clever part as the interior warms up a thin layer of the snow's inner surface melts slightly and then refreezes creating a layer of ice that actually strengthens the entire structure it's like the igloo is using your body heat to reinforce itself perhaps the most surprising feature is the ability to have a small fire inside the Inuit traditionally use seal oil lamps called cullick for both light and heat the Dome shape helps distribute the heat evenly while the snow's insulating properties prevent it from

melting the ventilation hole carries away smoke and that ice layer we mentioned earlier helps protect the structure just don't try building a bonfire we're talking about a small controlled flame that brings the interior temperature up to a comfortable level without turning your shelter into a snow on the versatility of igloos goes far beyond just providing shelter from Arctic blasts for Inuit Hunters these snowy structures have proven themselves as indispensable as a Swiss army knife during hunting trips that can stretch from days to weeks Igloo serve as more than just a place to rest they're command

centers for entire hunting oper operations the speed of construction is particularly impressive experienced Builders can set up a basic hunting igloo in about 2 hours which is faster than most people can figure out how to set up a complicated modern tent but perhaps one of the most ingenious uses of igloo is for food storage in the Arctic where keeping meat fresh is crucial for survival Igloo act as Nature's refrigerators the stable temperature inside an igloo consistently hovering just below freezing creates perfect conditions for preserving meat even better the solid snow walls provide excellent protection from

Hungry polar bears who might fancy a snack it's like having a bear prooof freezer that builds itself when properly maintained these structures can last an entire hunting season the key word here is maintained igloos aren't set it and forget it structures smart Hunters regularly patch up any cracks and add fresh snow to weak spots it's like having a house that occasionally needs a touchup except instead of paint you're using snow the maintenance process actually helps strengthen the igloo over time as each new layer of snow s adds to the insulation and structural Integrity what's particularly

fascinating is how these shelters adapt to different hunting situations a quick overnight Igloo might be relatively simple while a seasonal hunting base might feature extra amenities like storage areas or multiple rooms some hunting groups even create Igloo clusters think of it as an Arctic version of a hunting lodge complex complete with separate spaces for sleeping food storage and Equipment the design might be thousands of years old but when it comes to surviving and thriving in one of Earth's hard harest environments Igloo prove that sometimes the oldest Solutions are still the best ones