The Mediterranean Sea dropped during the Messinian Salinity Crisis—a major geological event that transformed the Mediterranean into a gigantic salt basin between 5.97 and 5.33 million years ago. The Mediterranean Sea dropped during the Messinian Salinity Crisis—a major geological event that transformed the Mediterranean into a gigantic salt basin between 5.97 and 5.33 million years ago. Earth Sciences Environment Phys.org – latest science and technology news stories