A few questions about the ark

[_squawkeye]

Has anyone ever figured how much space would actually be needed to put two of every animal species in the world together? Two elephants would take up a lot more space than two iguanas. Two mosquities don't take much space but how about all the pairs of larger spiders, millipedes, salamanders, salt water crocodiles and white rhinos?

After the flood passed apparently the world was now divided into the continents as we know them. Is this correct? If so, how did he wallaby get from where Noah landed to Australia? The Komodo monitor lizard to a South Sea Island where it grew big enough to kill and eat people?

The alpaca and llama in South America, the Polar Bear in the arctic and the penguin in the antarctic?

All from two of each species in one boat?

Did Noah have two of each species of fish? How did he keep the salt water species alive with nothing but diluted water covering everything? Soft water salt bags?

[_bcspace]

You might want to start with the smaller riddle of the Jaredite fishtank. (Ether 2:2)

[_Scottie]

I think the standard answer is "God can do anything".

[_harmony]

I think the standard answer is "God can do anything".

I was thinking more along the lines of Harry Potter's tent.

[_Ray A]

Is this correct? If so, how did he wallaby get from where Noah landed to Australia?

They "island hopped".

[_Ray A]

The people at CARM take this very seriously:

Classification . . . . Number of Species . . . . Number of Kinds on the Ark
Mammals . . . . . . . . .3,700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,700 (a few live in water).
Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60,200 (seven pairs according to
Gen. 7:3)
Reptiles. . . . . . . . . . .6,300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,300
Amphibians. . . . . . . .2,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,500
Fishes. . . . . . . . . . . .20,600. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .zero
Other marine life . . . 192,605. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .zero
Insects . . . . . . . . . . . 850,000 . . . (Since insects are very small, and a great many could be stored in a small area, calculation would be difficult.)
Total . . . . . . . . . . . .1,072,305 . . . . . . . . . . . . .72,700
The total number of mammals would be 3,700 times two pair which equals 7,400 animals. 7,400 divided by 240 = 31 boxcars used.
Since Gen. 7:3 says to take seven pairs of every bird then the total for birds would be 8,600 times two pair times 7 or 120,400 animals. 120,400 ÷ 480 = 250 boxcars. The reptiles and amphibians would be 6,300 plus 2,500 or 8,800. 8,800 times two pair equals 17,600 animals. 17,600 divided by 480 = 37 boxcars.
The total number of boxcars used would be 318 with a total number of animals at 145,400. There would be 251 boxcars left over. That means that only 56% of the ark would be used for storing the animals. Obviously, then, the rest of the space would be used for food for the people and animals and sleeping quarters. In addition, considering that insects are extremely small, it is easily conceivable that they could be housed in part of the remaining space.
It should also be considered that many animals can hibernate. Additionally, predators and prey have been known to habitat peacefully together during situations of stress like fire, flood, or earthquake. In the Ark, normal animal behavior would probably have been different from normal. Specialists in animal behavior have noted that animals can sense danger and have often migrated to escape it. Perhaps God used their migratory instincts to get them to the Ark.
Though this is only a brief analysis, it should present enough evidence that the Ark account is certainly within the realm of possibility.

I liked this bit:

Could the ark really contain all the animals of the world? Again the answer is "Yes." But let's look at the last question in more detail. The ark took about 120 years to build. Noah was 480 years old when he began the work and he had the help of his wife, three sons, and his son's wives. He probably hired local people to help in the construction.

Noah was still a spring chicken at 480 years old. And there were "others" in the land who were hired by Noah, which is strange, because we are told that the people mocked Noah. And when the floods came, what happened to the "hired help"? Did Noah leave them to drown in the flood? Typical CEO.

[_Ray A]

More commentary on the Ark:

How could Noah's family take care of all those animals?

Once aboard, many have suggested that Noah's problems really began, with only 8 people to feed and water, to provide fresh air and sanitation for the huge menagerie of animals for a total of 371 days. However, a number of scientists have suggested that the animals may have gone into a type of dormancy. It has been said that in nearly all groups of animals there is at least an indication of a latent ability to hibernate or aestivate. Perhaps these abilities were supernaturally intensified during this period. With their bodily functions reduced to a minimum, the burden of their care would have been greatly lightened.

Animals have to eat every day, and lions don't live off vegetables, and meat can't be stored without refridgeration. What did Noah feed the lions?

What Lions eat:

Female lions usually hunt at night or dawn and in packs. Their prey consists mainly of large mammals, such as antelopes, gazelles, warthogs, wildebeest, buffalos and zebras, but smaller animals like hares and birds are also taken occasionally. Carrion is readily taken and often recovered from other predators like hyenas and wild dogs. In some areas, lions specialise on rather atypical prey-species; this is the case at the Savuti river, where they constantly prey on young elephants, and at the Linyanti, where they hunt hippos.

Noah would have had trouble just keeping the other animals in one piece, because when he and his family slept at night, the lions would go hunting down the other animals on the Ark. Or perhaps God turned them into vegetarians for 371 days.

One wonders why God or Noah would go through all this trouble if it took supernatural powers to control the potential mayhem on the Ark, not to mention the floating toilet it must have been. No only would Noah have to feed 72,700 species everyday, but clean up their crap as well. Wouldn't it have been easier for God to just zap all the wicked from the earth?

Remember, as far as the Book of Mormon is concerned as well, all of this really, really happened. If it didn't, then the Book of Mormon is a fraud. Or so say the literalists.

[_Ray A]

Now let's look at the Ark story some more:

Most Hebrew scholars believe the cubit to have been no less than 18 inches long [45.72 centimeters]. This means that the ark would have been at least 450 feet long [137.16 meters], 75 feet wide [22.86 meters] and 45 feet high [13.716000000000001 meters]. Noah's Ark was said to have been the largest sea-going vessel ever built until the late nineteenth century when giant metal ships were first constructed. Its length to width ratio of six to one provided excellent stability on the high seas. In fact, modern shipbuilders say it would have been almost impossible to turn over. In every way, it was admirably suited for riding out the tremendous storms in the year of the flood.

But let's take a 20th century ship (just to be generous to the Ark fable), say, the Queen Elizabeth II:



The crew alone were accommodated on four decks of the ship. The QE II could carry 1,928 passengers and 794 crew. That is, the crew made up nearly half the number of passengers to look after the 1,928 people. But even with all of the modern sanitation, the QE II still had disease outbreaks. Diarrhea and vomiting were the symptoms in one outbreak, probably caused by a lack of proper sanitation. The liner took the following measures after the outbreak:

* increased cleaning and disinfection procedures,
* notified passengers aboard the ship,
* provided daily guidance on how to avoid infection,
* staffed the ship with environmental health specialists to provide additional support,
* collected stool specimens for analysis.
* sent daily updates to CDC until the number of ill people returned to expected levels

Now can you imagine 72,700 animal species floating on a boat for 371 days, with no disease outbreaks? And what would Noah have done if there was an outbreak? Again, we see the need for supernatural intervention here, and it again begs the question why God couldn't find an easier way.

Anyone who believes that this religious fable is "history" needs a brain transplant.

[_Scottie]

The total number of mammals would be 3,700 times two pair which equals 7,400 animals. 7,400 divided by 240 = 31 boxcars used.
Since Gen. 7:3 says to take seven pairs of every bird then the total for birds would be 8,600 times two pair times 7 or 120,400 animals. 120,400 ÷ 480 = 250 boxcars. The reptiles and amphibians would be 6,300 plus 2,500 or 8,800. 8,800 times two pair equals 17,600 animals. 17,600 divided by 480 = 37 boxcars.

What significance is 240 and 480?? Why divide by these numbers?

And, what is a boxcar??

[_Ray A]

What significance is 240 and 480?? Why divide by these numbers?

And, what is a boxcar??

I may have forgotten to provide the link Here.

Railroad cars.