WHAT IS A YURT?

A yurt is a portable, bent dwelling structure traditionally used by nomads in Central Asia.  It comprises of a crown supported by roof ribs bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall.  The top of the wall is prevented from spreading by means of a tension band which opposes the force of the ribs. 

Yurts have been a feature of life in Central Asia for about 3,000 years and found recorded by Herodotus living in Greece between 484 and 424 BC describing yurt-like tents as dwellings of the Scthians, a horse riding-nomadic nature living in the northern Black Sea and Central Asia region around 600 BC to 300 AD.

Traditional yurts are an expanding circular frame covered by a felt cover.  The frame consisting of expanding lattice wall-sections, a door-frame, bent roof poles and crown.  Yurts were designed to be dismantled and parts carried compactly on camels or yaks to be rebuilt on another side with construction taking two hours.

Today Yurts can be found in campgrounds.  The first Yurts we saw were in North Carolina at Campfire Lodge CG however we didn’t get to see the inside.  There is one Yurt here at Lake Michigan Campground and it is absolutely beautiful.  I’m sure these pictures don’t do it justice.

The Yurt is situated across the street from the main campground in the woods behind the Sports Complex so it is surrounded by woods.

Inside there are four bunk beds, a wood burning stove, carpet and a desk and it is surrounded by beautiful decking.  

The canvas can be tied back to reveal windows and the center can be opened so there is plenty of ventilation in the heat and closed up tight for warmth in the cold.

All you’d need is to bring in water (need to walk for the water), a sun-shower for hook up in the trees, a coleman stove to cook outside in case you didn’t want to heat up the inside, grill to cook over the fire pit and if you don’t want to use the woods, a port-a-potti – or you can walk across the Sports Complex parking lot up to the campground and use those facilities. 

One could survive quite well in a Yurt.  Amazing how a structure that is over 3,000 years old is still relevant today!