Mountain systems of the Paratethys are ancient

Abstract

The northern flank of the extensive Alpine geosynclinal system (Tethys), called in general Paratethys, went through several large-scale tectonic epochs. The paper gives evidences of the continuously erogenous character of the topography within the limits of the Crimean-Caucasian and Central-Asian segments of the Paratethys; the mountains arose from epi-geosynclinal orogenesis and were maintained by numerous subseqwent tectonic phases coming from the Tethys system. The methodical deficiency is emphasized which is characteristic to the popular notion of neotectonic distortions of the so-called pre-orogenous planation surface being the basis of the relief of the Crimea, Caucasus and most of the Central Asia mountains.