What is it about?
Seismic reflection data reveal a canyon lying beneath the modern Nile valley that is similar in relief to the Grand Canyon of the USA (Figure 1). During the Messinian (before 5.3 million years ago), halites (salt) were deposited in the Mediterranean basin, up to kilometres in thickness in places. This has led to a long-standing debate over whether they accumulated in deep water, like in the modern Dead Sea, or if instead the sea drew down during this period. The consensus seems mostly to favour the latter, though some researchers remain sceptical as there is some conflicting evidence. In our article (link), we argue that the level of the eastern Mediterranean must have declined to at least 1800 m below modern sea level to have created this canyon in hard Eocene limestones.
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Photo by Sonaal Bangera on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Micallef et al. (2018) have found benches in the lower slope of the Malta Escarpment (Mediterranean basin), which they interpreted as created when the Mediterranean Sea level was lower. After correcting for isostasy, they inferred from them that the sea drew down 1800-2000 m, remarkably similar to our estimate.
Perspectives
Thanks to Bill Ryan for a very extensive and informative review.
Dr Neil C. Mitchell
University of Manchester
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Deep drawdown of the Mediterranean during the Messinian Salinity Crisis inferred from Nile Canyon 3D seismic reflection data near Cairo, Egypt, Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, May 2026, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2026.113680.
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