Gary, I've re-read this entire thread, and I don't see where anyone has argued against as to WHERE the "windows of heaven" are located (above the luminaries). NightTwister alluded to (based on your question) and ALMOST stated he believed the rain came from clouds, but there weren't rain-clouds before the flood, so I wouldn't hold him to it. I know the reason you asked the question was essentially to point out that no one is willing to address is the initial question of this thread: So how far did the water fall to the earth? It is the DISTANCE no one wants to deal with, but then, that's the point of the proposition, is to get one to think seriously about what the Word of God teaches in Genesis chapter 1. No one on a "Christian" forum wants to outright deny the Word of God, and they don't know what else to say (because It says what It says), do they don't say anything (at least not anything that addresses the thread's focus).