Within the borders of Ağrı province is the boat formation (the Durupinar Noah’s ark site) that has been investigated by various researchers due to the possibility that it is the buried remains of Noah’s ark. The boat formation is located between Telçeker (Sürbehan) and Üzengili (Meşar) villages in the southern part of Gürbulak Valley near the Iranian border.
This formation, located on the foothills of the Akyayla Mountain and 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of the summit of Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı), is above the meso-tertiary rock units. It is thought that this section has not been affected by tectonic deformations for a long time. Therefore, analysis and dating studies should be carried out as soon as possible so that uncertainty can be eliminated. The fact that it has the potential to create a great tourist site for Turkey makes the issue urgent.
It has been observed that the area where this structure allegedly belonging to Noah’s Ark is located is not very well protected. Animal grazing and especially outside visitors and researchers enter the boat formation area without permission. First of all, this area must be protected from uncontrolled entrances.If this is the remains of Noah’s Ark, not a single stone should be moved from here because even the smallest detail can be very important for the research to be done correctly. It is also a fact that the deep crevices that occur are dangerous as they can cause accidents and serious injury.
As a result of field observations made on site, we observed that serious crevices occur on the right and left edges of this structure. Natural erosion and those caused by repeated landslides now extends to the body of the structure. As a result of heavy rains, the waters flowing from the valleys formed by the water coming down the slopes from the mountainous area on the right and left side of the structure should be drained from the site and diverted before reaching the structure. Within the scope of the project to be carried out, landslide susceptibility maps should be made here first. This risk will be minimized by showing landslide susceptibility maps of the site using geographical information systems.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Immovable Cultural and Natural Assets High Council has taken the site under protection as a natural protected area, taking into account that the ship mass is an immovable cultural and natural property that needs to be protected with the decision dated 17.09.1989 and numbered 3657.
Observations and examinations were carried out in the area where the possible remains of Noah’s Ark are located. As a result of the initial study, the following research goals and recommendations are given.
Scientific Project Details
- Orthophoto photography, LiDAR imaging and related mapping studies should be carried out using aerial drones (UAV) in the region designated as Noah’s Ark.
- A geomorphological survey of the region and the areas surrounding Noah’s Ark should be carried out and the effects of regional geology and natural factors should be determined.
- Geological maps of the near and far periphery of the region designated as Noah’s Ark should be prepared with a scale of 1/1000 and 1/5000. Geomorphological, tectonic, hydrological, volcanic, and sedimentological data of the Noah’s ark site should be processed on these maps.
- The location of the area where Noah’s Ark is thought to be should be processed on geomorphological and geological maps. In addition, spatial images of the region should be created in two and three dimensions. All available geographic, hydrogeological, geological and geomorphological information should be mapped based on GIS.
- Two- and three-dimensional underground models should be created by making aerial and ground geophysical (ERT, GPR, magnetometer, thermal) measurements in the area where Noah’s Ark is thought to be. Geophysical data should be displayed in two and three dimensions together with geology. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) of the Noah’s ark site is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface of a location. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is a geophysical technique for imaging subsurface structures from electrical resistivity measurements made at the surface, or by electrodes in one or more boreholes.
- A core drilling survey should be done. Analysis of geological samples taken from the surface and through core drilling should be made and tests done to determine the ages of these samples.
- It has been observed that the area around the Noah’s ark site is exposed to extreme erosion. In order to prevent this destruction, preventive measures should be taken with geotechnical methods and the damaged parts of the area should be restored. It should be taken into account that the cultural value of this site will disappear in the next few years, negatively affecting tourism within the region, if the necessary measures are not taken in a short time. Necessary improvement studies should be carried out immediately, according to the research results mentioned above.
As evidence emerges that the boat-shaped formation in the landslide area in the Telçeker region located within the borders of Ağrı province is a ship, the interest of researchers, scientists and tourists in this region will increase as more data comes to light. Please support the scientific study of the Durupinar Noah’s ark site by donating below.
*Please note that the Turkish scientists are in control of the work being done. They can change the details of the project if they so desire.