An igloo is a shelter constructed from blocks of snow, generally in the form of a dome. Igloos are associated with Inuit and Eskimo peoples living in Arctic regions. They were traditionally used as temporary shelters during hunting trips, though some have also been used as more permanent dwellings. With their striking snow-white appearance and hemispherical shape, igloos are an iconic symbol of life in the frozen north.
One question that often arises about igloos is whether they contain modern amenities like showers. After all, life in such a cold climate must require some way of getting clean and bathing. Do igloos really have showers installed given their nature as quite primitive snow dwellings? Let’s take a closer look at how involved constructing and living in an igloo traditionally was, and whether showers would be practical or even possible.
How Igloos Are Constructed
Igloos are made by cutting snow into blocks and carefully stacking and shaping the blocks into a dome. Traditional igloos were built using just a knife or other basic tools. Constructing one could take several hours or even days depending on the size.
Great skill was required to build an igloo with structural integrity, using the right snow conditions and stacking techniques. Air pockets between the snow blocks act as insulation, with the dome shape and low entranceway helping to trap body heat inside. A small hole is left at the top to vent smoke from an indoor fire.
Once completed, a basic igloo might be around 6-8 feet high and 10-20 feet in diameter, providing sufficient living space for perhaps 3-5 people. Larger igloos housed bigger families or even entire communities. Inside, platform areas were made out of packed snow for sleeping.
Daily Life in an Igloo
Igloos were only intended and designed for temporary shelter while out on the land. In the past, Inuit and Eskimo peoples did not actually live in igloos full time or permanently settle in any one location. Small family groups would migrate seasonally to access different hunting grounds.
The interior space of an igloo was quite cramped, with little room for standing. Inhabitants had to crawl in and out via the small entry tunnel. Inside, they would sleep, eat, and pass time waiting out harsh weather while on hunting trips. Activities like cooking, toolmaking, sewing, and crafting took place there.
Temperatures just inside an igloo typically range from about -5 to -15°C. Body heat and oil lamps provided sufficient warmth. Small alcoves were made in the snow to hold these stone oil lamps, giving light and heat. The smoke rose up through the vent hole.
Hygiene and Washing in Igloos
Igloos were built wherever there was access to snow of suitable depth and consistency, and dismantled after a stay of a few days or weeks. This mobile lifestyle did not allow for developed amenities like running water and sewage that require permanent settlement. Washing oneself or one’s clothes while inside an igloo would be difficult and unpleasant, even dangerous.
Spilling a lot of water inside an igloo could destabilize the snow blocks, melting them and causing collapse. Everything would have to be wrapped in thick insulating skins and layers too, so stripping to bathe would leave one vulnerable to the cold. Going outside to wash or bathe in freezing temperatures would also be incredibly uncomfortable and hazardous.
Some minimal washing and melting snow for drinking water could possibly be done carefully over the oil lamps, but overall, proper bathing required waiting until the inhabitants were back indoors in the warmth. There, racks were used to hang wet clothing near fires or lamps to dry them out.
Possibility of Adding Showers
While igloos do not contain built-in showers, could it be possible to add them? Unfortunately, there are some big challenges:
– A shower requires a water supply and drainage. Bringing water in from outside and then draining used water safely outside without destabilizing the igloo’s snow would be difficult.
– Igloos are temporary structures only inhabited for short periods. Installing any plumbing system would be impractical.
– The freezing air temperatures mean water brought inside would quickly turn to ice on walls and snow blocks. This moisture would begin melting the igloo.
– Heat and steam from a warm shower could also begin melting and weakening snow block structures.
– Traditional igloos have very cramped, low interior spaces without room for standing, let alone installing a shower.
– Once uninhabited, the igloo melts away anyway, so any shower installation would have to be dismantled.
Alternative Washing Methods
Though showers as we think of them were not possible, the Inuit did have some traditional methods for bathing and washing within their mobile lifestyle:
– Wet-wiping – Using cloths or tufts of grass dipped in warm water (heated over a lamp) to spot clean the body.
– Steambaths – A separate small snow shelter or dug-out cavity was specially built. This was sealed up except for a few airholes. Large lamps or fire inside then warmed it up into a steam room for bathing and sweating.
– Hot springs – Natural hot springs in some Arctic areas were used for bathing when accessible.
– Swimming – Short bathing swims were taken in cold lakes, rivers and the sea in warmer months. This required high endurance.
– Saunas – As some Inuit transitioned to more settled village life, wooden saunas were built and used like traditional Finnish saunas.
Conclusion
In summary, igloos as traditional snow dwellings did not have modern showers installed within them. Adding showers would have been impractical given an igloo’s temporary nature, the difficulties getting water in and out, lack of drainage, and confined interior space. While washing and bathing regularly were still important cold weather survival skills, the Inuit adapted using other methods like wet-wiping, steam baths, and river swimming to stay clean as they migrated seasonally across the Arctic lands. So next time you visit an igloo, don’t expect to find shower facilities inside!