Recent scientific expeditions conducted across Kazakhstan's Mangystau region have brought to light remarkable geological formations, offering compelling, direct evidence of the ancient and expansive Tethys Ocean. These stunning landscapes, characterized by multilayered slopes and dramatic canyons dating back millions of years, provide researchers with an invaluable geological chronicle. Under the direction of expert Gaukhar Yesirkepova, the team successfully documented sedimentary traces confirming that this entire area was once submerged beneath the waters of the prehistoric sea.
Bokty Mountain, an iconic landmark of Kazakhstan, exhibits striking, symmetrically arranged, multicolored strata composed of chalk limestone. This distinctive structure is a direct result of ancient marine sedimentation processes. Such fossilized evidence underscores the planet's relentless cycle of transformation. Similarly, the Kyzylkum Canyons, often likened to a layered dessert due to their appearance, vividly illustrate the extensive geological forces that sculpted the terrain. These intricate patterns serve as a potent reminder that seemingly permanent structures are transient expressions within the Earth's continuous dynamic movement.
The Ybyztysay Gorge holds particular fascination for geologists. Its limestone surfaces are marked by a unique cellular formation, often described as resembling a honeycomb structure. Within these textures, traces of marine organisms and minerals deposited over 40 million years ago remain perfectly preserved. These discoveries are crucial for reconstructing the paleogeography of the Tethys basin. This colossal ocean existed for approximately a billion years, acting as the vast marine divide between the supercontinents of Gondwana and Laurasia.
The Tethys Ocean was instrumental in the breakup of Pangea. It was named in 1893 by Austrian geologist Eduard Suess, after the ancient Greek sea goddess Tethys. Today, major bodies of water such as the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas are considered the primary relics of the former Tethys Ocean.
A short distance away, the Torysh Valley, which was once the ocean floor, features massive stone spheres known as concretions, some reaching up to 4 meters in diameter. These remarkable spherical formations are estimated to be between 40 and 60 million years old, firmly placing them within the timeframe of the Tethys Ocean's existence. Analyzing these structures helps us grasp that the continents we inhabit today are the product of immense divergence. This process saw deep marine basins transform into towering mountain ranges, including the Alps and the Himalayas. The landscapes of Mangystau are essentially snapshots of this epic planetary interaction, urging a deeper reflection on our place in this enduring chain of existence.
The researchers involved in the project strongly assert that safeguarding and studying these unique natural monuments is vital. Such conservation efforts are essential for fully appreciating the monumental scale of Earth's evolutionary history and its seemingly limitless creative geological impulse.
Geologist Gaukhar Yesirkepova eloquently summarizes the profound nature of these findings: "Every stratum is the music of time. The ocean has receded, but its song resonates within the stone."