The first major Alpine glacial advance and first major Pleistocene glaciation (ice age), which started c 590,000 years ago and lasted until the end of the Mindel glaciation. The Günz preceded the Günz-Mindel Interglacial and followed the Donau-Günz Interglacial, both periods of relatively moderate climatic conditions. The Günz is correlated with the Baventian Stage of marine deposits of Great Britain and the Menapian Glacial Stage of northern Europe. It is broadly equivalent to the Nebraskan Glacial Stage of North America.