A GLOBAL EVENT

The warming of 56 million years ago was etched into the rocks all over the planet, and the Pyrenees is one of the best outcrops to study it.

It was a global event that affected different environments, causing mass extinctions, but also a rapid diversification of new species.

The Pyrenees 56 million years ago

• Deep sea
• Shallow sea
• Continent

Zumaia

The Zumaia flysch provides one of the best records of the PETM in deep waters and shows that there was significant ocean acidification.

Ordesa

The Faja de las Flores trail, which stands between two large layers of calcareous rock, was formed by sediments that accumulated in a delta. These layers point to increased precipitation and erosion on the continent. 

Tremp

The conglomerates in the Esplugrafeda ravine confirm that during the warming period, heavy precipitation episodes increased considerably, leading to increased erosion in the incipient Pyrenees.