Mongolia: A Beautiful Landlocked Country in East Asia Was Once an Ocean
Mongolia, a vast and stunning landlocked country in East Asia, holds within its borders a fascinating geological secret: it was once the site of a mighty ocean. This ancient ocean, born from the upwelling of boiling rock from the Earth's crust, emerged over 400 million years ago and existed for an impressive 115 million years. The discovery of this ocean provides invaluable insights into the Earth's geological history and the intricate processes that shape our planet. A Peek into the Past The story of Mongolia’s ancient ocean begins with the tearing of the Earth's crust, a dramatic event that led to the formation of a vast body of water. This ocean's existence and eventual disappearance are crucial for understanding Wilson cycles, the process through which supercontinents break apart and eventually reassemble. These cycles are slow and expansive, progressing at a rate of less than an inch per year, as explained by Daniel Pastor-Galan, a geoscientist at the National
