An international research team has discovered new evidence of ancient flooding at a controversial site in Turkey that some believe could be the remains of Noah's Ark, according to findings presented at the 7th International Symposium on Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark.

The Durupinar formation, a 538-foot geological structure composed of limonite iron ore located about 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, has attracted attention for decades due to its boat-like shape and dimensions that closely match biblical descriptions of Noah's Ark.

Researchers from Istanbul Technical University, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, and Andrews University analyzed 30 soil samples from around the formation, finding traces of clay-like materials, marine deposits, and remnants of marine life including molluscs, as reported by the Daily Mail.

"Our studies show that this region harboured life in that period and that, at some point, it was covered by water, which reinforces the possibility that a catastrophic event of great magnitude occurred," the researchers stated. Dating of these samples showed they were between 3,500 and 5,000 years old, a timeframe that aligns with the biblical flood narrative. According to literal interpretations of the Bible, a worldwide flood occurred during the Chalcolithic period (5500 to 3000 BC).

Professor Faruk Kaya, lead researcher on the project, noted: "According to the initial results, it's believed there were human activities in this region since the Chalcolithic period." However, he also acknowledged limitations of the findings, admitting: "With the dating, it is not possible to say that the ship is here."

The formation's dimensions provide one of the strongest arguments for the Noah's Ark theory. The Bible describes the ark as being "three hundred cubits in length, fifty cubits in width, and thirty cubits in height." Using the standardized Egyptian cubit of 52.4 cm, this would translate to approximately 157 meters in length, close to the Durupinar formation's 164 meters.

However, the theory faces significant scientific challenges. Professor Lorence Collins of California State University Northridge published research in 2016 showing that the boat-like structure resulted from natural erosion processes. His studies also indicated that the formation is much older than the surrounding flood deposits. Additionally, scientists note that the fossilization of wood into stone requires millions of years, not the mere 5,000 years since the purported flood.

Despite these scientific objections, the Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark Research Team continues to investigate the site and is fundraising for a visitor center, according to the Daily Mail.

The formation was first discovered in 1948 by a Kurdish farmer and has been the subject of ongoing research and debate ever since, with both religious and scientific communities closely following new developments in this archaeological mystery.

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The research team analyzed more than 300 asymmetrical ridges within a geological corridor that crosses a submarine ridge – once the barrier between the Mediterranean's western and eastern basins. The scientists discovered a distinctive "W-shaped channel" in the continental shelf east of the ridge. This channel's unique shape and position indicate it functioned as a massive funnel, directing water toward the submarine Noto Canyon during the mega-flood event.

When the team sampled these ridges, they found a covering layer of rock fragments dating to the crucial transition period between the Mediterranean's dry phase and its refilling. This layer contained eroded materials from nearby areas, suggesting rapid deposition under tremendous force.

"The Zanclean megaflood was an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon, with discharge rates and flow velocities dwarfing any other known floods in Earth's history," Dr. Aaron Micallef, the study's lead author and researcher at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California, said.

"The morphology of these ridges is compatible with erosion by large-scale, turbulent water flow with a predominantly north easterly direction," Paul Carling, professor emeritus at the University of Southampton and study co-author, said. "They reveal the immense power of the Zanclean Megaflood and how it reshaped the landscape, leaving lasting imprints on the geological record," he added.

This discovery challenges the previous scientific consensus, which held that the Mediterranean's dry period ended gradually over 10,000 years.

To better understand the flood's dynamics, the research team developed sophisticated computer models simulating water behavior during the event. Their models indicate that the flood's direction shifted and its intensity increased over time, ultimately reaching velocities of up to 32 meters (105 feet) per second.

The scale of the Zanclean mega-flood was staggering – calculations suggest it discharged water equivalent to 40,000 Olympic swimming pools into the Mediterranean Sea every second, or 68 billion liters (18 billion gallons) per second.

The study provides crucial context about the period between 5.97 and 5.33 million years ago, when the Mediterranean Sea was cut off from the Atlantic Ocean and largely evaporated, resulting in massive salt deposits that transformed the regional landscape.

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Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, which this year fell on Sept. 6, the staff of IsraelHayom.com took a look through our archives and identified the most popular stories for our readers in the year that had passed since Rosh Hashanah 5781.

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But nearly four months have passed since then, and the news – good, bad, and bizarre – keeps rolling on.

As 2021 comes to a close, these are a few of the more recent stories that resonated most with Israel Hayom readers.

Noah's Ark might not be where you think it is

In October, archaeologists with the Noah's Ark Scans project said that using advanced 3D scans, they had located a giant shape in the Turkish mountains the proportions of which match the biblical descriptions of Noah's Ark. The discovery was made in the Durupinar site on Mount Tendurek in eastern Turkey.

Miss Universe tweets and the world responds

Israel hosted this year's Miss Universe pageant in the resort city of Eilat on Dec. 13. The winner, Miss India – Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu – graciously sent out a tweet saying how much she had enjoyed her visit, upsetting some social media users.

Will we or won't we?

Israel Hayom military commentator Yoav Limor's analysis of the challenges inherent in any attack on Iran's military facilities was a fascinating read that delved not only into the tactical but also the strategic and diplomatic aspects of Israel employing the "military option."

Water, water, everywhere – and a lot of cheap energy, to boot

Hydrogen fuel could solve a lot of problems for humanity, but it's expensive to produce. Now researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology might have solved that problem.

Really, Dave?

Comedian Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix special, "The Closer," included a joke about alien "space Jew" travelers who want to claim the earth for their own, which apparently took aim at the outlandish and frightening accusations targeting Jews since the start of the COVID pandemic. Later on, however, Chappelle continued to riff, and it wasn't quite as funny.

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