Noah's Ark Replica

[Jibarito40]

Working Replica of Noah's Ark Opens In SCHAGEN, Netherlands


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The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was thrown open Saturday for the first crowd of curious Pilgrims and townsfolk to behold the wonder.





Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark , built by Dutch Creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.



The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.

Life-size models of giraffes,elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras,bison and other animals greetvisitors as they arrive in themain hold.

A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine -Biblical Scholars debate exactlywhat the wood used by Noah would have been.


Huibers did the work mostlywith his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional helpfrom his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005.


On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for theopening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats,and onecamel.


Visitors on thefirst day were stunned.


"It's pastcomprehension, " said Mary Louise Starosciak, whohappened to be bicycling by with her husband while onvacation when they saw The ark looming overthe local landscape.


"I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would havebeen so big."


There is enough spacenear the keel for a 50-seat film theater where kids can watcha video that tells the storyof Noah and hisark.





Huibers said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where church going has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.


''If You Need Help, Ask God. If You Don't, Thank God''...

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6