Serravallian Stage

What happened during this time?

• The Paratethys Sea, was cut off from the ocean forming the the largest inland sea/ megalake in Earth's history

  • The sea covered more than 2.8 million square kilometers, from the eastern Alps to what is now Kazakhstan

  • Paratethys during this time was an open-marine environments with salinities between 12 and 14%

  • Brackish and lacustrine basins turned into ventilated seas

  • Today's Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Lake Urmia, Namak Lake and others are remnants of the Paratethys Sea