The Ark

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ADNAN
Here is an answer from ChristianAnswer.net, and even Christian fundys deny 
"evidence" for Noah's Ark in Turkey. 

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a001.html

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Over the last two decades the search for Noah's Ark has received international
attention. Dozens of expeditions to the Ararat region of eastern Turkey,
mostly by American Christian groups, have led to numerous claims - but no
proof.

According to the Bible, Noah's Ark was a large barge constructed of wood
and sealed with bitumen. Its overall dimensions were 450 feet long, 75 feet
wide and 45 feet high with three interior decks. A "window"  apeared to be
constructed around the top (Genesis 6:14-16). Incidentally, the overall
size of the Ark makes it the largest seagoing vessel known before the 20th
century, and its proportions are amazingly similar to the large ocean
liners of today.

The Bible says Noah's boat came to rest on "the mountains of Ararat" (Genesis
8:4). "Ararat" probably designated a region (the ancient kingdom of Urartu)
and not a specific mountain peak. After Noah and his family left the Ark on
the mountain, the boat virtually disappeared from the pages of the Bible.
Later Biblical writers never suggested they knew it could still be seen.

The mountain called Ararat today is more like a mountain range with twin
peaks.
Interestingly, there have been numerous reports throughout history of a
large boat on a mountain in this region. Earliest references (beginning in
the 3rd century B.C.) suggested it was common knowledge that the Ark could
still be viewed on Mount Ararat.

Reports over the past century range from visits to the vessel, to recovery
of wooden timber, to aerial photographs. It is generally believed that at
least large part of the Ark is intact, not on the highest peak, but
somewhere above the 10,000 foot level. Apparently encased in snow and ice
for most of the year, only during certain warm summers can the structure be
witnessed or accessed. Some have spoken of climbing onto the roof, others
say they have walked inside.

In the 1980s, "ark-eology" was given an air of respectability with the active
participation of former NASA astronaut James Irwin in expeditions up the
mountain. In addition, Ark investigation was also given a boost with the
breakup of the former Soviet Union, because the mountain was right on the
Turkey-Soviet border. Expeditions up the mountain had been considered a
security threat by the Soviet government.

Unfortunately, return visits to proposed sites have produced no further
evidence, the whereabouts of all photographs are presently unknown, and
different sightings do not suggest the same location on the mountain.
Furthermore, Astronaut James Irwin has since died, a purported eyewitness
has recently recanted publicly, and there have been few new expeditions up
the mountain in the 1990s.

But efforts are still ongoing. While the Associates for Biblical Research
is not engaged in any of these efforts, we are aware of continued research
into ancient reports, further testimony from eyewitnesses and renewed
efforts to pinpoint the Ark's resting place. More expeditions are pending.
If it's up there, we will certainly hear about it.

REFERENCES
Crouse, Bill. 1992. "Noah's Ark: Its Final Birth," Bible and Spade 5:3, pp.
66-77. Livingston, David. 1993. "The Date of Noah's Flood: Literary and
Archaeological Evidence," Bible and Spade 6/1: 13-17. Shea, William. 1988.
"Noah's Ark?" Bible and Spade 1/1: 6-14.

Author: Gary Byers of Associates for Biblical Research

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