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How long did the Pleistocene Epoch last?
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Quaternary
Distribution of landmasses, mountainous regions, shallow seas, and deep ocean basins during the Quaternary Period. Included in the paleogeographic reconstruction are the locations of the interval's subduction zones.
The Pleistocene Epoch lasted approximately 2,576,300 years.
It began 2,588,000 years ago, marking the start of the Quaternary Period, and concluded 11,700 years ago. While the epoch was previously defined by many geologists as beginning 1.8 million years ago, the International Union of Geological Sciences officially ratified the 2.588-million-year start date in 2009 to align with evidence of widespread glaciation and significant climatic shifts.12