Day 37: Seeking One of History’s Greatest Mysteries, Noah’s Ark 27 Comments

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We pass very close to the border with Iran and it’s strange to see road signs reading, ‘Doğubeyazıt,’ ‘Kars,’ ‘Iran.’ Iran has always felt like one of those untouchable faraway countries. Until today, here we are, sharing the D100 road with lorries with Iranian number plates and being pointed to the direction of the border.

About 5km before the border we turn right and head up a bumpy dirt track to the top of the peak. We are greeted by an abandoned tourist information building.

We head towards the top of the ridge, border with Iran

 

You can see the border wall with Iran in distance

We clamber over the extremely rocky terrain and after nearly breaking our necks we find it….YEAH!  Although Craig didn’t quite share my enthusiasm, I guess we have different view points. Many people depending on their area of expertise disagree on the connection between Mount Ararat and Noah. Some geologists and archaeologists believe a worldwide flood never took place.

Historians often back up this point of view. Citing no evidence of a mass cull of civilisation at that time. Both viewpoints do not, however, rule out the possibility of a smaller flood that Noah did indeed build the ark. 

Could this be where the ark landed?

According to the Book of Genesis, Noah’s ark landed on Hare Ararat.  Some scholars say this refers to the broad region of the time and not the actual mountain. This would coincide with the Islamic story. Noah is a prophet in Islam and the Quran says the ark landed on Al Judi.  This is one of Mount Ararat’s peaks.In the 1960s, a report in Life magazine said a Turkish army general surveying aerial photographs had spotted a 500 feet long boat shape engrained in the terrain. Fever set in and over the decades, many scholars, historians, scientists, religious experts and geologists visited the area to complete studies. 

Walking over to the spot

 

Great discussions took place with people dividing themselves into one of two camps.  Either yes, it was Noah’s ark or no, it was not. Some experts even changed their mind but after adamantly saying it was the ark to declaring they were wrong. In 2010, the esteemed National Geographic and Time publications ran pieces in which a team of explorers said they were 99.9% certain they had found the ark. Once again, however scientists and geologists stepped forward to say there is no factual evidence to back up their claim.

Stood in the middle of the spot…yeah

Back at base, the subject of Noah’s ark and whether it did ever exist or land on Mount Ararat continued. People who search for it are labelled ark hunters while many religious circles believe he did land on Mount Ararat regardless of whether science can verify the claim. Then there are archaeologists, scientists, geologists and historians who believe there was no need for him to ever build the boat in the first place.

Not quite the Titanic but couldn’t resist

 

It seems the story of Mount Ararat and Noah’s ark is unlikely to ever be solved and will forever be one of history’s greatest mysteries.

Our Bumble paid camping spot at Doğubayazıt GPS position N039.516857, E044.124909

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