Billionaire brothers build 450-foot-long life-size replica of Noah's Ark in Hong Kong
Having been built, according to the Bible, thousands of years ago, Noah's Ark has only ever existed in peoples' imaginations.
But now a group of architects who pondered what the Biblical vessel looked like have turned their dreams into reality by constructing a Noah's Ark replica, complete with animals.
Thomas, Walter, and Raymond's land-bound Ark certainly has dimensions on a Biblical scale, measuring a massive 450 feet long and 75 feet wide.
The tourists go in two-by-two: the Noah's Ark Theme Park, complete with fiberglass animals, sits in front of the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong.
The Ark also boasts less-authentic Biblical touches, such as double-glazed windows and a fine dining restaurant.
The billionaire brothers who built the Ark in Hong Kong claim it is the only ful-scale version in the world. And the imaginative trio even attempted to give the giant boat an air of authenticity, by placing 67 pairs of animals at the entrance, just like the pairs of creatures saved from the Great Flood by Noah in the Bible tale. The creationist-inspired vessel forms part of a theme park, which was inspired by a young girl's scrawled drawing of the mammoth boat. Architects appear to have used some artistic license in parts of the Ark, including double-glazed windows, a fine dining restaurant and luxurious bedrooms. Inside, real-life exotic animals can be found, including a nautilus, a toucan, and reams of fish.
The Ark shines under Hong Kong's lights as a fiberglass giraffe stands guard near the entrance.
Various fiberglass animals stand outside the Ark, mimicking the Biblical tale where Noah took creatures on board the vessel. The Noah's Ark Theme Park is now run by Christian organizations, who use it to promote peace and unity. Matthew Pine, manager of Noah's Ark Theme Park, said: 'They had a vision to do something remarkable, something outstanding. They came up with many ideas. Some of them were really outrageous. But then they came across this girl's drawing, and knew it would be something do-able that captured imaginations. So they hired architects and engineers to create the replica Noah's Ark.'
The Ark also includes a sophisticated-looking restaurant as one of its on-board attractions.
Guests on board Noah's Ark can also stay in one of its luxurious hotel-style rooms.
The Hong Kong-based Noah's Ark theme park was built in 2009 and is popular among tourists. Matthews added: 'The reason we chose that moment in the Bible's story is because this is the message we want to bring to Hong Kong, to China, to the world. In our lives we always face floods, we will face trials, we will face difficulties. Hopefully, Noah's Ark will inspire people to pass through those troubles, as Noah did in his day.' The Ark opened in May 2009, seventeen years after plans were first made for the enormous structure.
Rico says you know how he figured out God was cruel? Because She let Noah take those two damned mosquitoes (to say nothing of the flies and poisonous snakes and other dangerous things) on board...
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