Full-size replica of Noah's Ark

Johan Huibers poses with a stuffed tiger in front of his full-scale replica of Noah's Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark has opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day.

Huibers - who had previously constructed a smaller version of the ark - said his $1.6 million replica has realized a 20-year dream to educate people about history and faith.

Huibers, a contractor from a town in north Holland, said he was inspired to construct his ark after a dream he had in 1992 in which the Netherlands was flooded. After researching the project, he began construction of a 70-meter-long (230-foot-long) version of Noah's Ark, constructed of American cedar and Norwegian pine on top of a seaworthy steel hull.

Johan Huibers' son Roy walks on the ark during construction in Schagen, the Netherlands in March 3, 2006.

A sample of Johan Huibers' wood clamping system at the 230-foot-long replica of Noah's Ark.

The interior of Johan Huibers' smaller version of Noah's Ark.

This smaller craft was completed in 2007. Measuring roughly 45 feet high, around 30 feet wide and 230 feet long, the ark had about one-fifth capacity as Noah's would have had.

Roy Huibers lowers the gang plank of his father's 230-foot-long Noah's Ark replica in this file photo. The builder, who conceived of the project as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible, hoped his ark would encourage people to start reading the Bible and that it will help spread the word of Christianity.

Passersby look at a replica of Noah's Ark, built by Dutchman Johan Huibers, in the town of Schagen, Netherlands, Saturday April 28, 2007.

Carrying live and stuffed animals as well as religious information, Huibers' ark opened its doors to the public in the town of Schagen, Netherlands, in 2007. Here he explains exhibits to visitors. Huibers sailed his ark to several ports in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Ceinturion/CC/Rex Features via AP Images

In 2009 Huibers began construction of a full-size replica of Noah's ark - one with ten times the capacity of his earlier version.

Interpreting the description given in Genesis, Johan Huibers' incredibly detailed interpretation measures in at a massive 427 feet long, 95 feet across and 75 feet high. The $1.6 million project is pictured here during construction in Dordrecht, near Rotterdam, in June 2011.

Johan Huibers looks up to the sky when showing journalists the inside of the full-scale replica of Noah's Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. The Ark has opened its doors in the Netherlands after receiving permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors per day.

Interior view of the full scale replica of Noah's Ark with life-size replicas of animals.

Johan Huibers, center, shows journalists the inside of the full-scale replica of Noah's Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012.

Interior view of the full scale replica of Noah's Ark with life-size replicas of animals which has opened its doors in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012.

Johan Huibers, bottom right, poses with a stuffed tiger in front of the full-scale replica of Noah's Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012.

Stormy weather could do nothing to dampen the good mood of Noah's Ark's creator, Dutchman Johan Huibers: in fact, the rain was appropriate. For those who don't know or remember the Biblical story, God ordered Noah to build a boat massive enough to save animals and humanity while God destroyed the rest of the Earth in an enormous flood.

A life-size replica of a giraffe overlooks the Merwede river from a full-scale replica of Noah's Ark which opened its doors in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012.

Life-size replicas of penguins are seen outside a full-scale replica of Noah's Ark which has opened its doors in Doredrect, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012, after receiving permission to host up to 3,000 visitors per day.

A life-size replica of a crocodile mouth is suspended from the full-scale replica of Noah's Ark which opened its doors in Doredrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012.

Johan Huibers poses for a portrait in front of the full-scale replica of Noah's Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012.

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