157-meter mountain in Turkey could reveal Noah's Ark

Global interest in the so-called "Noah's Ark" returned to the headlines after Turkey authorized, in 2026, a scientific study of the Durupınar formation, a 157-meter elevation that resembles a ship's hull. Official permission and the use of advanced technologies explain the surge in searches for information about the site.

What is the Durupınar formation?

The structure is located in the Doğubayazıt district, Ağrı province, south of Mount Ararat. Identified in 1959 through aerial photographs taken by Captain İlhan Durupınar, the formation has an elongated shape resembling a vessel, which fuels its association with the biblical narrative.

How is the research being conducted?

The Noah's Ark Scans project, coordinated by archaeologist Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila from Sivas Cumhuriyet University, uses ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), LiDAR technology, and drilling to map the interior without immediate excavation. The drilling allowed the collection of nearly a thousand soil samples from 150 points on the slope.

What findings have been revealed so far?

Geophysical surveys indicate the presence of linear structures, right angles, and large spaces that could be cavities or corridors. Laboratory analyses of the soil samples show a concentration of organic matter nearly three times higher inside the formation, suggesting the possibility of preserved organic material, such as petrified wood.

What has the scientific community said?

Some researchers argue that the detected patterns do not match a simple limestone rock, while most geologists interpret the formation as the result of natural mass movement and erosion processes. The debate remains open, as the data are considered indicative, not conclusive.

Next steps of the investigation

The team plans to complete the geophysical mapping and, only after that, evaluate the need for controlled excavations. The goal is to characterize the internal structure before any interpretation regarding its origin, whether natural or artificial.

With information from CNN Brasil, Revista Oeste, Diário do Litoral.