Mount Ararat focus of the searches for Noah's Ark. Augustin Calmet wrote in his 1722 biblical dictionary, "It is affirmed, but without proof, that there are still remains of Noah's ark on the top of this mountain; but M. de Tournefort, who visited this spot, has assured us there was nothing like it; that the top of mount Ararat is inaccessible, both by reason of its great height, and of the snow which perpetually covers it." Archaeological expeditions, sometimes supported by evangelical and millenarian churches, have been conducted since the 19th century in search of the ark. According to a 1974 book
Eastern Arc Mountains to a great deal of endemism, and a very diverse flora and fauna, The Eastern Arc becoming known as one of the world's top twenty biodiversity hotspots. Seventy-five species of vertebrate are endemic to the Eastern Arc, as well as thousands of species of invertebrates. Sixteen plant genera are endemic to these mountains, one of them being "Saintpaulia", the African violet, now used as a houseplant around the world. Many of these endemics have evolved recently, but some are remnants of populations that were at one time more widespread. The Uluguru Mountains and the eastern Usambara Mountains have the greatest