The Eskimo Igloo

The Eskimo made igloos out of building blocks cut from snow banks. For a
secure fit, all the blocks for the igloo had to be cut from the snow
banks. Blocks were three to four feet long, two feet high, and six to
eight inches thick. The first row was place d in a circle, and the
following rows slanted inward, forming a vault. Joints were filled in with
snow and scraps. Additional vaults could be built on for storage. Windows
in the main dome were cut was also cut for ventilation. Some igloos were
lined insi de with skins, which trapped a layer of cold against the walls,
allowing the temperature to be warmer without melting the snow. An igloo
usually housed two families throughout the winter.