Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site and attraction in southwest Turkey in the province of Denizli. Pamukkale is located in the interior of Turkey in the Aegean region, in the Menderes valley, which enjoys a temperate climate most of the year.

[caption id="attachment_62" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Hot Springs Of Pamukkale"][/caption]The ancient city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white "castle", which in total is 2,700 meters long and 160 m in height. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the city of Denizli, 20 km away.

 

The tectonic movements that took place in the fault depression of the Menderes river basin triggered frequent earthquakes, and gave rise to a number of very hot springs. The water of these springs, with its large mineral content, chalk in particular created Pamukkale. Apart from some radioactive material, the water contains large amounts of bicarbonate and calcium, which leads to precipitation of calcium bi-carbonate.

Every second 250 liters of hot water emerges from this spring, precipitating 2.20 grams of lime per liter of chalk or 0.55 kilograms per second. Over time, some sources dried up because of earthquakes, while new ones emerged in the area.

The effect of this natural phenomenon has left thick white layers of limestone and travertine cascading down the mountain slope resembling a frozen waterfall. One type of these formations is travertine terraces formed by crescent-shaped with a surface layer of water, lying in a staggered arrangement of the upper third of the slope, with steps ranging from 1 million to 6 feet high. The other way is to stalactites, propping up and connecting these terraces.

The oldest of these rocks is crystalline marble, quartzite and schist. These date back to the Pliocene period, while the upper layer belongs to the Quaternary. new deposits of calcium carbonate give the site a dazzling white appearance.

[caption id="attachment_63" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Hierapolis Pamukkale"][/caption]

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These sources were well known in antiquity. Were described by the Roman architect Vitruvius. The Phrygian Greeks built Hierapolis on top of the hill. He is credited with medicinal properties for the spring water, bestowed by the gods, especially Asklepios (demigod of medicine) and his daughter Hygieia (goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation), under the protection of Apollo (god of medicine and healing).

 

Pamukkale is a tourist attraction. Is recognized as a World Heritage Site with Hierapolis. A few other places in the world resemble it, including the Mammoth Hot Springs in the U.S. and Huanglong in Sichuan Province of China (another UNESCO World Heritage Site). Hierapolis-Pamukkale was made a World Heritage Site in 1988.

[caption id="attachment_64" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="hierapolis pamukkale theatre"][/caption]

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Prior to the designation of World Heritage Site, Pamukkale was protected for decades in the late 20 and the hotels were built on top of the site, destroying parts of the remains of Hierapolis. Hot water from the springs was taken to fill the hotel pools and the waste water spilled over the monument itself, turning it brown. A tarmac road ramp was built in the main part. People walked with shoes, washed with soap and shampoo in the pools and rode bikes and motorbikes up and down the slopes.

 

At the time UNESCO turned its attention to Pamukkale, the site was losing its appeal. The officials made attempts to restore the site. The hotels were demolished, and the ramp of the highway was covered with artificial pools which today are accessible to tourists barefoot, unlike most other parts of the site.

A small trench was carved on the outside of the ramp to collect water and prevent spillage. The brown parts are left to be bleached by the sun without being covered by water to lessen the problem. So many pools are empty. Other parts are covered with water for an hour or two, on a rotating schedule.

[caption id="attachment_65" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="ancient theatre"][/caption]The nearest airport is Denizli - Cardak airport is 65 km or 1 hour away and there are two daily flights to Istanbul. Trains to / from Izmir, Ankara and Istanbul. Bus to Pamukkale / Denizli can be found in almost all cities of Turkey. There is virtually no bus companies to take you directly to Pamukkale despite what the ticket sellers to tell you.

 

 

The bus will arrive in Denizli and then you have to catch the local dolmus to Pamukkale. Take a dolmus, a kind of collective taxi flights are usually about 10 people (but it is possible that they will wring more) of the near Denizli. Frequent minibuses serve the people of Pamukkale, a walk of 20 minutes.

The underground volcanic activity which causes the thermal waters also forced to carbon dioxide in a cave. The result was called the Plutonium meaning place of the god Pluto. Tadpoles can be found in the pools.