Johan Huibers, bottom right, poses, after being asked by a photographer to go outside, with a stuffed tiger in front of the full scale replica of Noah's Ark in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Monday Dec. 10, 2012.
A full-scale replica of Noah's Ark has opened its doors to the public in the Netherlands.
Stormy weather Monday could do nothing to dampen the good mood of its creator, Dutchman Johan Huibers. In fact, the rain was appropriate.
In the Biblical story, God orders Noah to build a boat big enough to save animals and Noah's family while Earth is covered in an enormous flood.
Johan interpreted the description given in Genesis to build his ark. It measures in at a whopping 130 meters (427 feet) long, 29 meters (95 feet) across and 23 meters (75 feet) high.
Huibers says he realized a 20-year dream to educate people about history and faith. The ark has received permission to receive up to 3,000 visitors a day.