Tethys Ocean facts for kids
The Tethys Ocean was a huge ancient sea. It existed between two giant landmasses called Gondwana and Laurasia. This was a long time ago, during the Mesozoic Era, which is also known as the Age of Dinosaurs.
Over millions of years, the Tethys Ocean changed. Today, smaller seas like the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea are what's left of this ancient ocean.
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What Was the Tethys Ocean?
The Tethys Ocean was not just one sea. It was a series of oceans that opened and closed over a very long time. This happened as the Earth's tectonic plates moved. These movements constantly reshaped the continents and oceans.
Scientists use different names for the Tethys Ocean at different times. This helps them understand its long history. Each name represents a different stage of this massive ancient sea.
Stages of the Tethys Ocean
The Tethys Ocean went through several important stages. Each stage lasted for millions of years.
The Proto-Tethys Sea
The Proto-Tethys was the earliest version of this ocean. It existed from about 550 to 330 million years ago. This period stretched from the late Ediacaran to the Carboniferous times. It was the first step in the long story of the Tethys.
The Palaeo-Tethys Sea
After the Proto-Tethys came the Palaeo-Tethys. This stage lasted from the Carboniferous period to the early Jurassic period. During this time, the Earth's continents were still moving. They were slowly forming the supercontinent Pangaea.
The Neo-Tethys Ocean
The Neo-Tethys is often called the Tethys Ocean "proper." It existed between the giant continents of Gondwana and Laurasia. This was before the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean started to open up. The Neo-Tethys was like a much bigger Mediterranean Sea. It stretched all the way through to where the Indian Ocean is today.
The Paratethys Sea
To the north of the main Tethys Ocean, there was another sea called the Paratethys. This sea was roughly in the area where the Alps mountains are now. It was a separate but connected part of the Tethys system.
Remnants of the Tethys
Even though the Tethys Ocean is gone, its legacy remains. The Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea are all small pieces of this ancient ocean. They are like puddles left behind after a giant lake dries up. Studying these seas helps scientists learn more about the Earth's past.
Images for kids
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Plate tectonic reconstruction of the Tethys realm at 100 Mya
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Geologist Eduard Suess in 1869
See also
In Spanish: Océano Tetis para niños
