Noah's Ark Afloat in Holland

You'd have to figure that a Dutchman would know a thing or two about holding back the waters. Nevertheless, Johan Huibers has completed a 20-year construction odyssey resulting in a full-scale functioning model of Noah's Ark.

Just in time for the end of the world it is, although Huibers insists that the timing is coincidental. He's not actually planning to get into the big boat and sail away anytime soon, but he probably wouldn't mind giving a tour or two in the next week or so.

Measurements match up with the popular scheme advanced in the Bible, so there's lots of room for two or more animals of lots of different varieties. The stalls are ready and able to support animal life, although those stalls are filled with stuffed or plastic animals at the moment. But wait, real, breathing animals are onboard as well, and Huibers and his family are having to look after them. The curious can go aboard and pet dogs, ponies, sheep, birds, and rabbits. (My suspicion is that the number of any of those animals won't remain at two for long.)

He's also included hatches that can be closed and sealed off, on the order of the Titanic and other large ships, in case icebergs or humpback whales or other curious things come into contact with the big boat for more than a glancing blow.

Where's the boat? you ask. Why, it's moored in some water in Dordrecht, a city just south of Rotterdam, awaiting sailing orders.

Huibers began his quest in 1992, after he had a nightmare that included large-scale flooding of his home country. In the 20 years, the quest has evolved into including some modern comforts, just in case we modern people need to make use of "Johan's Ark." So he's included a restaurant and 50-seat movie theater. Will they be showing the movie 2012? Who knows?