Photo: "Noah's Flood" May Have Triggered European Farming

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The Black Sea on a clear day is seen from NASA's SeaWiFs, a specialized sea-viewing satellite, in an undated image.

New research suggests the biblical story of Noah's flood may have been inspired by a catastrophic flood more than 8,000 years ago.

Around this time the North American ice sheet melted, raising sea levels and flooding the Black Sea.

The deluge may have also spurred a growth in agriculture in Europe, experts say.

Image courtesy NASA's SeaWiFS

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