[Quark2005]

Am I mistaken, or have geneticists ruled out that humanity can be traced back to three couples?--

I had never heard that; even if true, though, it only proves what it says - that humanity can be traced back to 3 couples.

A localized flood is definitely possible. One must remember that in Biblical times most people did not ever wander more than 50 miles from where they were born - easy to see where someone might believe the whole world had been flooded. A global flood, though, would have left a plethora of indelible geological & biological signatures that simply aren't there.

[grey_whiskers]

One must remember that in Biblical times most people did not ever wander more than 50 miles from where they were born - easy to see where someone might believe the whole world had been flooded.

If the purpose of Noah's flood was to wipe out (most of) humankind, what would be the necessity to take out unpopulated areas?