Man Builds True-To-Size Replica Of Noah’s Ark
March 13, 2023
source: Bored Panda via Ark of Noah
I have seen some impressive replicas in my lifetime, but this one may just top the charts. Way back in 1993, Dutch man Johan Huibers was reading a bedtime story about Noah’s Ark to his children. This gave him the inspiration to one day build a Noah’s Ark himself. Though his wife thought the idea was crazy, Johan was determined. In 2006, he finished the first version of his ark.
However, Johan was not satisfied with this version. He didn’t think it was big enough. So in 2008, Johan formed a group of carpenters and they set to work on building an even bigger replica. Four years later in 2012, the ark was complete and opened to the public. The astonishing building cost a whopping $1.6 million to create.
Situated in Dordrecht, Netherlands, the ark is complete with wooden animals, just like in the Bible. The carpenters who worked on the ark came up with the dimensions based on specifications included in the Hebrew Bible. The ark is about the height of a five-story building, with a capacity of 5,000 people. That should give you an idea of the sheer size of the structure.
And though it is currently stationary, Johan has grand plans to transport the ark to Israel. “This is a copy of God’s ship. It only makes sense to take it to God’s land,” he said. In order to make this dream a reality, Johan is relying on donations from the general public. Because the ark has no motors, he will need to employ tugboats to sail the structure to Israel. He estimates he will need around $1.3 million in donations to make this happen.
Though it’s certainly not the most conventional building I’ve ever seen, Johan’s vision and the resulting craftsmanship is truly something to behold. I can safely say I’ve never seen a replica of this scale before!
h/t Bored Panda – check out their link to read more about Johan’s impressive project!
