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Johan HuibersDutch carpenter
Country:
 Netherlands |
Content:
- A Dutch Carpenter
- The Battle Against Nature
- Johan Huibers' Response
- A Full-Size Ark
- Capacity and Design
- A Potential Savior
A Dutch Carpenter
Johan Huibers, a Dutch carpenter, spent three years and around 1 million pounds to build a replica of Noah's Ark. His creation is currently located in the town of Dordrecht in the Netherlands and is incredibly popular among tourists. The Ark houses two cinemas, a restaurant, and a collection of life-size plastic animals, providing visitors with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the biblical legend.
The Battle Against Nature
The Netherlands is a prime example of how humans can effectively resist nature when necessary. A significant portion of the country's land has been reclaimed from the sea. Dams and dikes hold back the force of the elements, but floods remain a constant threat and a primary fear for many Dutch people.
Johan Huibers' Response
Johan Huibers decided to respond to this potential threat in a rather radical way. He dedicated three years and a substantial amount of money to constructing a faithful replica of Noah's Ark. Initially, Huibers built a scaled-down version of the legendary vessel, which circulated through Dutch canals and gained stable popularity among tourists. Eventually, he managed to gather enough funds to realize his idea of creating a full-size model.
A Full-Size Ark
Some may argue that the term "full-size" is not applicable to a replica of a mythical structure. However, the dimensions of the Ark are explicitly stated in the Bible. According to the Sacred Scriptures, God instructed Noah to build an Ark that was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. Although the cubit measurement varied in different countries, Huibers used his own cubit as a reference. As a result, his Ark measures around 450 feet (approximately 150 meters) in length, more than half the size of another legendary ship, the Titanic.
Capacity and Design
Huibers' Ark may not be able to accommodate pairs of every creature, but it can hold up to 1,500 people. The replica is accompanied by numerous plastic animals, such as giraffes, elephants, donkeys, and even a few live chicks. Weighing 3,000 tons, the Ark was constructed using Swedish pine and steel. It is currently moored in the western part of Dordrecht, near the dock where Huibers assembled it.
A Potential Savior
It is difficult to determine how effective the Ark would be in the event of a real flood, considering its size and weight. However, it is unlikely that the Ark will need to save lives from catastrophic floods, whether it be a divine punishment or a more common natural disaster like the devastating flood that occurred in Dordrecht in the 15th century, claiming a minimum of 10,000 lives. At present, there are no such predictions. Nevertheless, predicting such events is a complex task, and it is not impossible that Johan Huibers' Ark will one day fulfill its intended purpose.
