A bizarre new tourist attraction has opened its doors to the public in Dordrecht, the Netherlands - a life-sized Noah's Ark, reported The Inhabitat. The project first began in 1992 when contractor Johan Huibers dreamed that waves from the ocean washed over the Netherlands during a storm. Then he claimed that his dream was followed by even more signs, prompting him to build the Ark. Firstly, while it does float, Huibers has stressed that the Ark is not designed to save people from a global flood. Instead, he built it as a symbol of his faith. Huibers built the Ark exactly to the specifications noted in the Bible resulting in a structure that is approximately 23 meters wide, 13.7 meters high and 137 meters long. That's 50 cubits wide, 30 cubits high and 300 cubits long according to the Bible. Despite planning the Ark's construction since 1992, construction on the full-size Ark only started in 2009. Huibers had previously built a smaller model with volunteers, but sold it to focus on the life-size version. Every detail was taken into account, in order to make the Ark as accurate as possible. There were however deviations in Huibers contemporary construction; according to the Bible, Noah used "gopher wood" when he built the Ark, but this has been disputed so the hull was built by welding the metal hulls of several old barges together and then using Scandinavian pine for the skin. The Ark cost US$ 1.6 million, stands four stories tall, is as long as a football field and even comes complete with animals-although they are not real. However no expense has been spared in that department either, with Huiber's wife Shamlian claiming it cost $US 11 thousand for just one elephant! There were rumors that the Ark could have been sailed to London in time for the Olympics, though this turned out not to be the case. Deborah Venema-Huibers, manager of the Ark, said that they had to abandon plans to sail the ark to the London Olympics, after they were asked to make the wooden boat safer for visitors. Earlier this year, Armenian media reported, that a life-sized Noah's Ark to be built on the rise, next to the "Victory" park. However, then the information was refuted. Press Service of the Public Council announced, that the idea of project was accepted, but the construction site not. Noah's Ark construction at the suggested site architects considered impossible for three reasons. First, the project needs additional space for needed infrastructures. Second, it may push Victory Memorial in the background, and the third Noah's Ark will have a vast impact on the nearby historical and cultural monuments. According to the project, the length of the ark is planned to be 133.5 meters, width - 22.25 meters, and height - 13.35 meters. The building will have three floors. On the ground floor will be a museum, the first floor will accommodate a conference hall, cinema and offices, and the second floor is a hotel. Construction of US$ 20 million building is planned to be completed by 2015, to the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide. The project's funding will not be public; the project will be realized solely by benefactors' donations.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you - the waters have indeed parted! This incredible "sunken" bridge located in the Netherlands is giving visitors a unique way to access a beautiful 17th Century Dutch fort. According to Inhabitat the Moses Bridge, designed by RO & AD Architects, literally parts the waters that surround the fort, allowing pedestrians to pass through. The bridge is made from sustainable Accsys Technologies Accoya wood. A series of moats and fortresses were built over the West Brabant Water Line region of the Netherlands during the 17th century in order to provide protection from invasion by France and Spain. Fort de Roovere was surrounded with a shallow moat that was too deep to march across, and too shallow for boats. In turn the earthen fort had remained protected - until now. From afar, the Moses Bridge is invisible to the eye. The flow of the moat appears continuous, as the water level remains at the same level, reflecting the surrounding foliage. As visitors approach the fort, the bridge appears as a break in the water with its sloping walls containing it. First lying flush with the earth, the bridge then descends deeper into the ground. Lined with wood sheet piling for walls, the deck and stairs sit between. The bridge and its components have been made from sustainable hardwood. The Accoya wood is also treated with a nontoxic coating, protecting it from fungal decay and increasing its durability - an ideal material for a sunken bridge. Like a dam, the walls of the bridge hold the waters of the moat back, and like Moses, the bridge parts the waters so that pedestrians may pass. The Moses Bridge gives visitors a unique opportunity to pass through parted waters, to eventually meet a historic fortress of defense.