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How much lower was sea level during the Last Glacial Maximum?
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Pleistocene Epoch
Ice sheets during the Wisconsin glacial episode penetrated deep into North America.
During the Last Glacial Maximum, which occurred toward the end of the Pleistocene Epoch, global sea levels were approximately 125 metres (410 feet) lower than they are today. Other estimates indicate that sea levels dropped by 130 metres (426 feet) or more during the broader interval of 30,000 to 15,000 years ago. This significant reduction in sea level was caused by the massive accumulation of water in continental ice sheets and glaciers, which exposed large portions of the world's continental shelves and created land bridges between regions that are currently separated by ocean.123