Data used in this story are collected through literature research on the web—and physically visiting the two museums in Papuk. And by interviewing the geologists Goran Pavić and Goran Radonić—plus biologist Marko Doboš, I was able to use in-house knowledge too.

→ Storymap was created over the course of the 20-week internship by Oskar Brack—which lasted from Feb → Jul 2025.

1 ― 1.9″ Oligocene Fossil Cinnamon Leaf (Daphnogene) – France. (n.d.). FossilEra. https://www.fossilera.com/fossils/1-9-oligocene-fossil-cinnamon-leaf-daphnogene-france?srsltid=AfmBOormDovdlvoXRfX-kFscmAO2891Tb-zQumR-6A8rJ46RgqbdiNUj

2 ― Banak, A., Ruszkiczay-Rüdiger, Z., Grizelj, A., Đuras, M., & Petrinjak, K. (2024). Mammal-bearing Pleistocene deposits, Vranić, southwestern Pannonian Basin System. Journal Of Palaeogeography, 13(3), 430–452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jop.2024.04.001

3 ― Behre, B. (2017, 29 oktober). bird’s eye view photography of island under white clouds. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/birds-eye-view-photography-of-island-under-white-clouds-PB_SdlCPCDs

4 ― Cipan, V. (2022, 5 november). The Map of the Pannonian Sea – Reconstruction. viborc.com. https://viborc.com/map-of-the-pannonian-sea-reconstruction/

5 ― Ćorić, S., Pavelić, D., Rögl, F., Mandić, O., Vrabac, S., Avanić, R., Jerković, L., & Vranjković, A. (2009). Revised Middle Miocene datum for initial marine flooding of North Croatian Basins (Pannonian Basin System, Central Paratethys)The Pannonian Basin System (PBS) originated during the Early Miocene as a result of extensional processes between the Alpine-Carp. Geologia Croatica, 62(1), 31–43. https://doi.org/10.4154/gc.2009.03

6 ― Cretaceous Volcanic Rock Geosites of the Papuk UNESCO Global Geopark (Croatia): Scientific Aspect of Geoheritage in Geoeducation, Geotourism and Geoconservation. (n.d.). Civilica, 6(1). https://en.civilica.com/doc/1672314/

7 ― dahaproject3. (2019, 11 augustus). 1.17 Metamorphic rock Rock Classification Examples [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzSvyyQp1fA

8 ― Dražen, J., & Japundžić, S. (2019). First Sarmatian seal remains (Pinipedia, Phocinae) from Mt. Papuk (Slavonia, Croatia). In ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388260335_First_Sarmatian_seal_remains_Pinipedia_Phocinae_from_Mt_Papuk_Slavonia_Croatia

9 ― Fossil remains of seal on Papuk – Kuća Panonskog Mora. (n.d.). https://www.kucapanonskogmora.hr/en/fossil-remains-of-seal-on-papuk-n2

10 ― Geosciences UU [@UUGeo]. (2023, 20 december). This year’s theme of @GWR is the Blue Planet. We are proud to announce that this includes a topic about Paratethys, the largest lake the Earth has ever seen, inspired by a @SciReports paper by @DanPALCU et al. https://uu.nl/en/news/utrecht-universitys-earth-sciences-for-the-first-time-ever-in-the-guinness-book-of-world-records #GWR2024 @UUEarthsciences @UniUtrecht. X. https://x.com/UUGeo/status/1737382457538720123

11 ― Harangi, S., Jankovics, M. É., Sági, T., Kiss, B., Lukács, R., & Soós, I. (2014). Origin and geodynamic relationships of the Late Miocene to Quaternary alkaline basalt volcanism in the Pannonian basin, eastern–central Europe. International Journal Of Earth Sciences, 104(8), 2007–2032. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-014-1105-7

12 ― Heyde, M. (2025, 23 juni). Ostrea (CC BY-SA 3.0 license). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrea#/media/File:Oyster.jpg

13 ― Horváth, P. (2006, mei). Simplified geological map of the Slavonian Mts. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Simplified-geological-map-of-the-Slavonian-Mts-after-Jamici-c-c-et-al-1986-Jamici-c_fig1_226649471

14 ― House of the Pannonian Sea | Požega-Slavonia County Tourist Board. (n.d.). https://visitslavonia.hr/en/explore-experience-and-enjoy/nature-park-papuk/house-of-the-pannonian-sea/

15 ― Kázmér, M. (1990). Birth, life and death of the Pannonian Lake [Print]. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 79, 171–188. https://kazmer.web.elte.hu/pubs/Kazmer_1990_Birth_Pannonian_Lake.pdf

16 ― Magyar, I., Geary, D. H., & Müller, P. (1999). Paleogeographic evolution of the Late Miocene Lake Pannon in Central Europe. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 147(3–4), 151–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-0182(98)00155-2

17 ― Matenco, L., & Radivojević, D. (2012). On the formation and evolution of the Pannonian Basin: Constraints derived from the structure of the junction area between the Carpathians and Dinarides. Tectonics, 31(6). https://doi.org/10.1029/2012tc003206

18 ― Nature Park Papuk. (n.d.). Parkovi Hrvatske. https://www.parkovihrvatske.hr/en/park-prirode-papuk-v2

19 ― North of Labeatis Fossae – Sculpted by Nature (May 14, 2020). (n.d.). https://www.geo.fu-berlin.de/en/geol/fachrichtungen/planet/press/archiv2020/2020_labeatis_fossae/index.html

20 ― Otvorena multimedijalna “Kuća Panonskog mora”. (n.d.). Pandopad. https://www.pandopad.hr/otvorena-multimedijalna-kuca-panonskog-mora-b10

21 ― Papuk UNESCO Global Geopark. (n.d.). UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/iggp/papuk-unesco-global-geopark

22 ― Peharda, M. (n.d.). The Pannonian sea. Gradski Muzej Požega. https://www.gmp.hr/qr/102-kap-u-moru-2

23 ― Petrinjak, K., Grizelj, A., Budić, M., & Avanić, R. (2021). Sedimentary architecture and dating of Pleistocene breach deposits from Vranić locality, southern margin of the Pannonian Basin (Croatia). In ResearchGate. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30697.62562

24 ― Prelogović, E., Saftić, B., Kuk, V., Velić, J., Dragaš, M., & Lučić, D. (1998). Tectonic activity in the Croatian part of the Pannonian basin. Tectonophysics, 297(1–4), 283–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-1951(98)00173-5

25 ― Rman, N., GeoZS, Maros, G., MBFSZ, Nádor, A., MBFSZ, Lapanje, A., GeoZS, Markič, M., & GeoZS. (2021). Lessons learned from the Pannonian basin. https://repository.europe-geology.eu/egdidocs/geoconnect3d/geoconnect3d_d52d_lessons+learnt+pannonian+basin.pdf

26 ― Sail across the Pannonian Sea | Požega-Slavonia County Tourist Board. (n.d.). https://visitslavonia.hr/en/interesting-facts/sail-across-the-pannonian-sea

27 ― Shpuryk, B. O. (2022, 12 mei). Taal Volcano Eruption 2020. ArcGIS StoryMaps. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f9d617f14edd4466a068b54e1f2ab1d6

28 ― Sremac, J., Makovec, M., Vrsaljko, D., Karaica, B., Tripalo, K., Firi, K., Bušić, A., & Marjanac, T. (n.d.). Reefs and bioaccumulations in the Miocene deposits of the North Croatian Basin – Amazing diversity yet to be described. In hrcak.srce.hr [Portal Of Croatian Scientific And Professional Journals]. The Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin (MGPB). https://doi.org/10.17794/rgn.2016.1.2

29 ― The Central Paratethys Sea—rise and demise of a Miocene European marine biodiversity hotspot. (2024). Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67370-6

30 ― Travel Croatia Live. (2021, 27 november). Papuk – Travel Croatia Live. Homey. https://travelcroatia.live/listing/papuk-3/

31 ― View of Cretaceous Volcanic Rock Geosites of the Papuk UNESCO Global Geopark (Croatia): Scientific Aspect of Geoheritage in Geoeducation, Geotourism and Geoconservation | Geoconservation Research. (n.d.). OICC Press. https://oiccpress.com/gcr/article/view/2832/1049

32 ― Vukovski, M. (2019). Structural Analysis of Mesozoic and Cenozoic Deformational Structures in Western Part of Papuk Mt. In ResearchGate. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28281.21606