2, the Bible - Genesis account: "This happened on February 17th. On that day, the source of the great deep was all ruptured, and the windows of heaven were opened wide, and heavy rain poured down on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights." Noah and his wife traveled in an ark, and after drifting for 40 days in the great flood, they ran aground on a high mountain. In order to find out if the Great Flood had receded, Noah first released ravens, then doves twice, until his second release brought back an olive branch, indicating that the flood had receded.