ANCIENT INCISIONS OF THE MANYCH: MORPHOLOGY, ORIGIN, AGE, PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Abstract

There are many paleo-incisions in the Manych depression, which vary in morphology, origin, and age. They were formed by the erosion and abrasion processes under the conditions of unstable sea level of the Caspian and the Black seas. Paleo-incisions may be subdivided into two groups: (1) two-sided forms mainly connected with bottom erosion of rivers and ancient water fluxes, (2) one-sided forms, caused by lateral abrasion and erosion of ancient bayous. Paleo-incisions occur through the whole Pleistocene stratigraphic range of the Manych and often constitute multi-aged systems. The largest of them occur in the Lower and Middle Pleistocene.