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Who knows two hundred twelve?

Please cite/link your sources, if possible. At some point at least twenty-four hours from now, I will:

  • Upvote all interesting answers.

  • Accept the best answer.

  • Go on to the next number.

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2 Answers

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The waters of the mabul were at least 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Source: Rav Chisda, Z'vachim 113:2.

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1  
But if they were "15 cubits above the highest mountains," wouldn't the temperature have been lower? The boiling point of water goes down by about 1 degree for every 500 feet of elevation. – Alex Mar 23 '11 at 17:59
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I had thought of that. But presumably all the water was boiling, not only the top part of it. 212 is still not exact: presumably the weight of the top water would pressurize the bottom water enough to raise its boiling point, and anyway I don't know what the boiling point a very tall mass of water is (considering the varying pressure). Also I didn't take solution/suspension, which changes the boiling point (albeit slightly, considering how much water there was), into account. 212 is the best I could do. Any physicists? – msh210♦ Mar 23 '11 at 19:03
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However Noach measured temperature in Celsius? – Gershon Gold Mar 23 '11 at 23:05
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Checkmark for the interesting discussion, not for the inherently Jewish-212-ness of the fact. – Isaac Moses Mar 24 '11 at 13:55
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צלפחד = 212

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