Researchers Unearth Massive Submarine Canyon in Deep Levant Basin, Israel
significant discovery has been made by researchers from the Geological Survey of Israel (GSI) as they unveiled a massive submerged canyon previously unknown to science. Dubbed the "Eratosthenes Canyon," it is situated in the Levant Basin near the Eratosthenes seamount. This underwater geological formation spans approximately 10 kilometers in width and reaches depths of about 500 meters.
The Eratosthenes Canyon was formed during the early Messinian era, predating salt deposition. It emerged due to a drop in sea levels and an increase in salinity, with dense gravity currents playing a role in carving and shaping the canyon's seafloor. This discovery provides valuable insights into the environmental conditions prevailing in the deep Mediterranean basins before the peak of the Messinian salinity crisis.
The findings shed light on the region's geological history and contribute to our understanding of the Earth's past climate changes.
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