A vocabulary of landscape — a landscape of words 1467 entries

seaŋáš

SENG-ahsh
Granulated snow that forms at the bottom of the snowpack when the winter has been cold. Good snow for reindeer — easy for them to dig through to reach the pasture plants beneath. Also the type of snow that melts rapidly and represents clean water supply.
Etymology
Northern Sámi. Identified by Sámi reindeer herders as one of the most important snow types for their livelihood. The process of snow changing to seaŋáš is called seaŋkut.
Notes
Equivalent to what avalanche scientists call depth hoar, and to Inuktitut pukak. Same phenomenon, understood from entirely different vantage points — the scientist sees danger, the herder sees food access for animals.
 ice/snow animals Indigenous Sámi
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