The paleogeographic evolution of Lake Pannon within the Pannonian basin is
reconstructed with eight maps, ranging from the Middle Miocene to the Early
Pliocene. The maps are based on the distribution of selected biozones and
specific fossils, and on complementary sedimentological and seismic informa
tion. Our reconstruction shows that the history of Lake Pannon can be divid
ed into three distinct intervals: an initial stage with low water level, wh
ich resulted in isolation from the sea at about 12 Ma and might have led to
temporary fragmentation of the lake; an interval of gradual transgression
lasting until ca. 9.5 Ma; and a long late interval of shrinkage and infilli
ng of sediments that persisted into the Early Pliocene. The deep subbasins
of the lake formed during the transgressive interval, in more basinward loc
ations than the deep basins of the preceding Sarmatian age. The southern sh
oreline, running parallel with the Sava and Danube rivers along the norther
n foot of the Dinarides, changed very Little during the Lifetime of the lak
e, while the northern shoreline underwent profound changes. (C) 1999 Elsevi
er Science B.V. All rights reserved.