Roofs of sod have sheltered mainland Scandinavians through countless winters and summers. But those who migrated from Norway"s grass-roof log cabins to this Icelandic tundra in the 9th century found none of the rich timberland of their homeland—just wispy birch forests and grassy fields. To survive the cold, they took the old turf roof concept and built on it, encasing not only the roofs but the walls of their birch-framed homes in layers of living, insulating soil.
Tough turf
Today in History
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It s Republic Day in India
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Can you see the family resemblance?
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A grand event
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National Hammock Day
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Surströmming Day
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‘Stepping’ into Black History Month
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Reflections of the night sky
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Take a break! It s Labor Day!
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Happy Bee Day to you
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Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
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It s a ruff life
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European hedgehog in Sussex, England
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Manatees rebound
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Gone ‘lightseeing’ in Berlin
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Black bear cub emerging into spring
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A polar bear near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
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Celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day
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A universe underground
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A narrow passage
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Castelmezzano, Italy
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Petrified Forest National Park
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A little blue
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Infrared Jupiter, erupting Io
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World Space Week begins
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Saint Andrews Day
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Castle Frankenstein in Darmstadt, Germany
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Hemingway’s Keys
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It’s Endangered Species Day
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They’re grrrape!
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Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire, England