Doğubeyazıt - Kars - Turkey
Ararat, Turkish Ağrı Dağı, name of two mountains, Little Ararat (12,877 ft/3,925 m) and Great Ararat (16,945 ft / 5,165 m), E Turkey, near the Iranian and Armenian borders. The tradition that Mt. Ararat is the resting place of Noah’s ark is based on a misreading of Gen. 8.4, which properly reads - upon the mountains of Ararat, indicating a country or region. The land or the kingdom of Ararat (fl. c.9th - 7th century B.C.), called in Assyrian Urartu, was situated between the river Aras and the lakes Van and Rezaiyeh.
Noah’s Ark
In 1959, during a NATO aerial photographic mission, a Turkish Army captain photographed an unusual "boat-shaped" object located 12 miles south of Mt. Ararat. It appeared to be the approximate size of the biblical ark. Some of these pictures, along with an article on the subject, were published in the September 1960 issue of Life magazine. After studying these photos photogrammetry expert Dr. Arthur Brandenburger stated; "I have no doubt at all that this object is a ship. In my entire career I have never seen an object like this on a stereo photo."
In 1960 an expedition from the USA explored the boat-shaped objected but after several days of visual inspection they found nothing of interest. 17 years later, in 1977, Ron Wyatt made his first trip to this area to specifically look for this formation.
During that trip he and his two sons not only found the boat-shaped formation but also several huge drogue-style anchor stones that they believed were associated with Noah’s Ark. These stones appeared to be aligned along the path the Ark might have taken as it came to rest inthis part of eastern Turkey. On several of these stones he found iconographic inscriptions which seemed to represent the 8 survivors of Noah’s flood.
After this initial investigation, the next year an earthquake in the region caused the earth to drop away from the formation exposing rib timbers and deck support timbers along the sides. Ron was able to take samples of what appeared to be petrified wood and the soil around it. On analysis the samples were found to contain a higher than normal level of organic carbon indicated that this was indeed once awooden object.
In the 1980’s, with the cooperation of the Turkish government, Ron and his team were able to do several metal detection surveys which revealed that the timbers were held together with metal rivets and plates. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) scans of the formation revealed a huge man-made structure beneath the surface of the formation which included keels, decks, bulk-heads and all the other parts of an ancient boat.
It was during one of these scans that Ron located just below the surface what ended up to be a large piece of a petrified deck timber. On examination it was seen that it was laminated, that is, it was made up of three separate layers of wood.
In 1985 Ron’s work on Noah’s Ark was featured on the ABC national television program 20/20.
On June 20, 1987, after a review of the data and artifacts recovered, the Turkish government announced to the world the discovery of the remains of Noah’s Ark based on 10 years of intensive research by Ron Wyatt of Nashville, TN. They commissioned the building of a visitors center overlooking the remains and set the immediate area aside as a national park.
Since that time, a number of other artifacts have been found, by Ron and various others who have worked at the site. These include numerous samples of petrified wood and embedded metal plates containing rivets.
In total 13 anchor stones have been found. Each is approximately the same size although some of them have been broken over the years. Each has the very distinctive rope hole at the top. Most have crosses carved on them although 2 of the stones have been found with no inscriptions whatsoever.
In 1998, while surveying the site with other scientists, Dr. William Shea of the Biblical Research Institute found a pottery shard about 10 meters from the western side of the formation. On one side is painted the picture of a man releasing two birds. On the other side is etched a picture of a man with a hammer in his hand driving a spike or nail into something. The man is wearing some type of a headdress. Across the front of the headdress the name "Noah" is written in Proto-Siniatic text. This is the first piece of hard evidence that directly ties any potential ark site to the biblical character Noah.
Since Ron’s death in August 1999, several of his associates have continued his work. A number of other objects and inscriptions have been recently found that are believed to be associated with the ark. These are currently being analyzed. In 2003 the Turkish visitor’s center at the site was turned into an on-site museum.
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AĞRI DAĞI
TRIP ITINERARY
DAY 1:
Arrive in Van Airport meet you there and start our expedition transfer by minivan to Doğubayazıt town via Muradiye waterfalls and volcano Mountain Tendürek to enjoy the view. C/in to our hotel transfer to Ishakpaşa Palace to have a dinner there to see the sunset. Chat about the expedition.(D)
DAY 2:
After breakfast Permits and gear check, transfer to Eli village 2200 mt. by truck. This trip takes 2 hours. Then continue by mules we will start trekking to first camp site at 3200m. Average 5 hours. (If you want you can rent a mule for yourself also).Over night in Camp. (B/L/D)
DAY 3:
After having breakfast and packing up, we start to climb 4200meters, the height of which will be our last camp area. We arrive in the camp area and have lunch. We spend the rest of the day by resting and listening to our guide about the important climbing route. We go to bed early tonight in order to be ready for the hard climbing that will take place tomorrow. (B/L/D)
DAY 4:
Summit day. We will wake up at 2:30 and after breakfast we will start for the summit bid with the sunrise. We will be accompanied by a fascinating view of the landscape through our climbing (if the weather is sunny). It will take 6 hours to the summit. Return to camp at 4200 m and rest. We load our baggage to mules and go down to 2200 meters, Transfer to hotel by truck. (B/L)
DAY 5:
Spare day in case of bad weather, if weather is okay we will use this day for to visit Doğubayazıt sites (Noah’s Ark, Hot springs, Meteor crater, etc.). (B/L)
DAY 6:
Transfer to Van Airport after the breakfast for the departure. Say good bye, see you in the other expeditions. (B)
Ararat Expedition / 5 nights - 6 days
Includes:
Profesional Mountain guide, Mules to carry the bags, Two nights in tree star hotel+breakfast, Tree or fore nights at mountain+B/L/D, Tent, Transportation from city to montain and back, transportation form the airport.
Not Included :
Personal expenses, Special Climbing Permit (50 Euro), Single Accommodation, Private tent, Personal climbing equipment, Private guide and Mule support, All drinks,Tips to your drivers /guides and escort which are left to tour member’s discretion.
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