Snowmobile facts for kids
A snowmobile is a special vehicle made for traveling on snow and ice. It's also called a motor sled or snowmachine. Snowmobiles don't need roads. They are often driven on open snowy areas or special trails. Many people enjoy snowmobiling as a fun sport and hobby.
Most snowmobiles made today are for one person. Some older ones and special "touring" models can carry two people. Snowmobiles are open to the air, except for a small windshield. They have a moving track at the back that pushes them forward. Skis at the front help you steer.
Early snowmobiles used simple rubber tracks. Modern ones use strong materials like Kevlar composites. At first, snowmobiles had two-stroke gasoline engines. Since the mid-2000s, four-stroke engines have also become common.
In the second half of the 1900s, snowmobiling became a popular hobby. People who ride snowmobiles are called snowmobilers or sledders. They enjoy different types of riding like racing, trail riding, and even racing on grass or water in the summer. Snowmobiles are sometimes changed to compete in long off-road races.
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Snowmobiles in Cold Places
Since they were invented, snowmobiles have been very important for communities in northern North America. These early designs were not always strong enough for the harsh winter weather.
Joseph-Armand Bombardier started making the Ski-Doo in 1959. A priest had asked him to create a simple and reliable way to travel in winter. The Ski-Doo changed life in isolated northern towns. By the late 1960s, Ski-Doos had replaced dog sleds. They also made it much easier for these communities to communicate with each other. In some parts of Alaska, snowmobiles are called "Snow Machines."
How Snowmobiles Help with Work
In northern North America, people used to rely on dog sledding and snowshoeing for hunting in winter. The Ski-Doo allowed trappers to go much farther and faster. This helped them find more hunting areas. People like prospectors, miners, foresters, and even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police found snowmobiles very useful. They were the best way to move small loads in the snow.
Snowmobiling for Fun
Joseph-Armand Bombardier's tests showed that snowmobiling was a lot of fun. It quickly became a new outdoor activity. People who used to stay inside all winter now had a new way to enjoy the outdoors.
Money and Snowmobiles
Snowmobilers in Canada and the United States spend a lot of money each year. This includes money for equipment, clothes, trips, and repairs. This spending helps many small towns. For example, Bralorne, British Columbia, relies on snowmobilers. This small town, once a gold mining area, is hard to reach by car in winter. Snowmobilers help its economy by buying gas, food, and staying in hotels.
Images for kids
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Harry Kalenze, inventor of the Vehicle Propeller
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1921 Ford Model T snowmobile
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Motor sled powered by a Coandă ducted fan
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Snowmobile running on the Mississippi River near Hastings, Minnesota, 1910
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Nicholas II Packard Twin-6 with Kégresse track
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Early Bombardier Snowmobile
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Early snowmobile interior
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Airplane-engine-powered skimobile taxi in Red Lake, Canada, 1937
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A snowmobile used by emergency services in ski areas in Vercors, French Alps. It carries emergency equipment and tows a stretcher.
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Alpina Sherpa, a dual track snowmobile
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Arctic snowmobile with heated cabin
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Student-constructed SAE clean snowmobile at Imagine RIT 2017.
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Snowmobile race
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X-Games athlete Ethen Roberts posing with his snow bike
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See also
In Spanish: Motonieve para niños
