Translating to modern measurements, Huibers came up with a vessel that works out to a whopping 427 feet (130 meters) long, 95 feet (29 meters) across and 75 feet (23 meters) high. Perhaps not big enough to fit every species on Earth, two by two, as described in the Bible, but plenty of space, for instance, for a pair elephants to dance a tango.According to a story in HuffPo, this ark took Huibers around four years to build—and it is functional, unlike that land-locked contraption being built by the Revved up Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis.
Johan's Ark towers across the flat Dutch landscape and is easily visible from a nearby highway where it lies moored in the city of Dordrecht, just south of Rotterdam.
Gazing across the ark's main hold, a huge space of stalls supported by a forest of pine trees, visitors gaze upon an array of stuffed and plastic animals, such as buffalo, zebra, gorillas, lions, tigers, bears, you name it. Elsewhere on the ark is a petting zoo with actual live animals that are less dangerous or easier to care for — such as ponies, dogs, sheep, and rabbits — and an impressive aviary of exotic birds.
It would be fun to float around on the thing, if nothing else, to see how seaworthy it really is.
I really want to see it towed out to sea and cut loose to ride out a North Sea storm!
ReplyDeleteAin't that the truth.
ReplyDeleteIt's Huibers'second Ark, actually. The first was a 1:3 'scale model' which he sold off and is now 'the only floating Biblical theme park' (www.verhalenark.nl/). I know this 1:3 Ark was build on top of a barge, so the underwater bits are modern. I imagine he did the same thing with the 1:1 Ark, if only because he needs all sorts of permits to run the thing.
ReplyDeleteHe does want to take it out to sea, and built it with that purpose. Needs to be towed, though.
Thanks, Rene. I thought I had added that point but forgot to put it in.
ReplyDelete