Table T2. Summary of the late glacial and Holocene Baltic Sea stages, approximate ages, inlets and outlets, salinity, and characteristic types of sediments.
| Stage | Age (ka) | Inlet/Outlet | Salinity | Sediment type in Baltic proper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltic Ice Lake | ~16–11.7 | Öresund and south central Sweden | Freshwater | Clay, varved |
| Yoldia Sea | 11.7–10.7 | South central Sweden | Freshwater/weakly brackish water/freshwater | Clay, weakly varved/homogeneous |
| Ancylus Lake | 10.7–9.8 | South central Sweden and later southern Baltic Sea area | Freshwater | Clay, homogeneous, sometimes sulfide banded or stained |
| Littorina Sea | 9.8–3.0 | Öresund/Great Belt | Brackish water | Gyttja clay/clay gyttja, alternating homogeneous and finely laminated |
| Post-Littorina | 3.0–present | Öresund/Great Belt | Brackish water | Gyttja clay/clay gyttja, alternating homogeneous and finely laminated |
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