Where did Noah's Ark Land?
The Great Flood and Noah´s Ark has been a subject of research for centuries, just like other biblical stories. Whereas some approach it with doubt and consider it no more than a fable, some truly believe in its existence and show tremendous efforts in locating Noah´s Ark. All with the hope of proving that there was an Ark, built by Noah, which survived the flood with the help of God. Although some claim that the flood was a global one, most researchers think more evidence is needed to imply one existed. However, they suggest a local flood occurred in Mesopotamia (today´s Iraq and surrounding area). This is signified by the Assyrian and Sumerian texts that were discovered during archeological diggings. [1] In addition to the stories of the flood mentioned in both the Bible and the Qur´an, a similar story is mentioned in the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh. [2]
"and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat." [Genesis 8:4] Genesis 8:4 mentions "Mountains of rrt", since Mosoretic Hebrew did not have any vowels, "rrt" had been translated as "Urartu" and later during Armenian times as "Ararat". Urartu was an Iron Age Kingdom in Eastern Anatolia which was established in 1350 BC and conquered by Media (ancient Iranian People) during the early 6th century BC. The word rrt (Ararat/Urartu) is also mentioned in Jeremiah 51:27 as a Kingdom in Anatolia. Urartu Kingdom was lying on a mountainous area. The highest mountain in this region is Mount Ararat which is known as Agri Dagi in Turkey. Due to this fact, it had been the most popular research site for ark-hunters for years. Although there have been many expeditions, accounts, alleged sightings, anomalies, and claims of discovery in Mount Ararat, none of the researchers could find scientific evidence. The volcanic Mount Ararat is cylindrical and some geologists claim its formation was after the flood. There are differing views on the accounts of the formation of Mount Ararat on whether it was formed after the flood or during the flood. However, there is no real scientific evidence to support either of these views. Since there is no account of a visible ark on the mountain, most claim it must be preserved under the ice cap on the peak of the mountain. There have been two Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) attempts in the past to look under the ice cap for the remains of an ark. No trace of an ark could be found, although, it would be wrong to conclude its nonexistence until the mountain is completely scanned. Researchers also point out that since the upper reaches of the 17,000 feet mountain is covered with broken lava rock, it is not considered an ideal place for any walking creature to ascend or descend from.
Another site near Mount Ararat was Durupinar, named after Turkish Captain llhan Durupinar, who had identified a formation in a Turkish Air Force aerial photo while on a NATO mapping mission in 1959. This big formation was shaped like a large canoe. A study of Durupinar was conducted in 1960 by the Archeological Research Foundation. Its study on the canoe shaped formation revealed soil and rocks. The official news release concluded that "there were no visible archaeological remains" and that the formation "was a freak of nature and not man-made."[3]
At the beginning of the Christian era, the lands referred to as Ararat was only a northern subdivision of Armenia, near the Araxes River. As a result, when interpreting the location of Mount Ararat, post-Christian writers and Armenians restricted this location to the smaller Araxes River. However, during the time the Old Testament was revealed to Moses, the Urartian region was much more extensive. One might also conclude that the ark could have landed on any of the mountains in the area. This fact and the following verse from the Qur'an moved the attention of the researchers to another Mountain in the area: Mount Judi (Cudi Dagh). 
"Then the word went forth: "O earth! swallow up thy water, and O sky! Withhold (thy rain)!" and the water abated, and the matter was ended. The Ark rested on Mount Judi, and the word went forth: "Away with those who do wrong!" [11:44]
Like Mount Ararat, Mount Judi resides within the borders of Turkey. Mount Judi is the first mountain from a chain of mountains on the border of the Biblical Ararat region which separates the region from the Mesopotamian plains. Compared to Mount Ararat, Mount Judi is a lower peak, standing at 6853 feet. There are numerous monasteries on this mountain built by the Christian Nestorians, including one on the summit called "Cloister of Ark". Also on the summit is a stone structure called "Sefinet Nebi Nuh" ("The Ship of Noah"), named by the locals. Every September 14, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sabians and Yezidis gather on the mountain to celebrate Noah´s sacrifice. According to Zakariya ibn Muhammad al Qazvini, a geographer of the 13th century, wood from Noah´s ark still existed on Mount Judi as late as the eighth and ninth centuries AD, until it was removed and used to construct a mosque. If we assume that an ark of giant dimensions and high durability once existed and rested upon a mountain, even though it is expected to be grounded to bits, one would expect this to take centuries, even millenniums to happen. Such a religiously and historically significant relic would be highly respected, talked about from generation to generation. People would want to see it and own a piece of it. Therefore, this historical structure and commemorative tradition on Mount Judi suggests that for thousands of years, people believed Noah's Ark landed on this area. Furthermore, Dr. Friedrich Bender, a German geologist, found pea-sized wood buried in the soil during his expedition on the mountain in April 1953. The carbon-test he conducted on the samples dated the remains to be 6500 years old. [4]
"The dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in her beak was a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth." [Genesis 8:11] Olive trees do not normally grow today on Mount Ararat (Mount Agri) or the surrounding region. However, olive trees have been grown at Judi from antiquity to current times as its proximity to the Mediterranean region. "Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded [a] to plant a vineyard." [Genesis 9:20] Grapevines are typical of this region, and even in recent times numerous vineyards are grown along the Tigris River valley around Mount Judi as well as the area surrounding Mount Ararat. Mount Judi rises in the borders of Turkish city, Sirnak. The name Sirnak comes from Sehr-i Nuh (City of Noah), which later transformed into Sernah and then into Sirnak. The first village from the summit of Mount Judi is Yogurtcular koyu. This was previously known as Hestan (meaning eighty in Kurdish) until recent times. Hestan is believed to be founded by the eighty people who had survived the flood in the ark. The village has three main streets, Ham, Sam and Yafes named after Noah´s three sons. 
Scientists are excited about this new location as the possible ark landing. However, as this article mentions the latest geological researches were made on the area decades ago due to military conflict in the area. With hope, the mountains in the area will be safe enough one day to allow scientists to conduct their research. 
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