The sea was formed during the Oligocene epoch (after 34 million years ago) when it was separated from the Tethys Ocean to the south by the formation of the Alps, Carpathians, Dinarides, Taurus and Elburz mountains.
The sea was formed during the Late Oxfordian epoch as an extension of the rift that formed the Central Atlantic Ocean, it got isolated during the Oligocene epoch (after 34 million years ago). It was separated from the Tethys Ocean to the south by the formation of the Alps, Carpathians, Dinarides, Taurus and Elburz mountains.