That Time the Mediterranean Sea Went Missing
The death and rebirth of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea is a very iconic landmark. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin. It is unique because it is almost completely surrounded by land — except for the strait of Gibraltar, a narrow strait that separates Morocco and Spain while connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. The sea is surrounded on the south by North Africa, on the north by Western and Southern Europe, and on the east by the Levant.
The Mediterranean was once an important trade route, and understanding the stories the sea has to tell is important for deciphering the history of the regions that surround it, for example, the sea was ruled by the Romans for centuries, and their nautical command over it was critical to their supremacy. Everyone knows about the lost city of Atlantis; even though it is a story that only exists in legend.
The disappearance of the Mediterranean Sea however is a real phenomenon that occurred during the Mesozoic era around 252.2 million years ago. The sea disappeared for around 630,000 years.
