A devout Christian is spending more than £62 million constructing a 500-foot long Noah’s Ark – which will become the largest timber-framed building in the world.
The full-sized wooden replica of the ship from the biblical story of Noah and the Great Flood is to the become the main attraction at a unique US amusement park set to open in July.
Inside the ark will be several exhibits featuring Noah and his family, along with information to help the public understand the Bible.
Ken Ham, president and chief executive of Answers in Genesis, the Christian organisation behind the Noah’s Ark-themed amusement park, The Ark Encounter, in Kentucky.
He said: “We want to challenge people that Noah wasn’t some primitive brute. He was very intelligent.
“One of the big questions is how could he fit all the animals on board?”
The ark, which is nearing completion, will be 510 foot long and stand 80 feet high, and will be able to encounter 16,000 guests per day.
To build the full replica, 3.3 million feet of wooden boards will be used, not counting exhibits inside.
Other plans to be completed include to build a Walled City from the Tower of Babel, a first-century Middle Eastern village, as well as a walk-through aviary and a large petting zoo.
The attraction is designed to be family friendly, historically authentic, and environmentally friendly, and will be one of the largest green construction projects in the US.
In 2014, Answers in Genesis was awarded tax incentives, potentially worth more than $18 million over 10 years by Kentucky officials.
According to the Old Testament Noah built an ark after being told by god that great flood was coming and he had to save all of the world’s animals.
In 2010 archaeologists in Turkey thought they had found the remains of an ark in Mount Ararat but other scientists have cast doubt on its authenticity.
