White travertines of Pamukkale
Pamukkale Hot Springs
Pamukkale Hot Springs - Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale Hot Springs - a natural thermal complex in the town of Pamukkale, Denizli province in southwestern Turkey. The name translates as "cotton castle". The white travertine terraces and the adjacent ancient city of Hierapolis have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.
The thermal waters here are rich in calcium and carbon dioxide. When they reach the surface, calcium carbonate precipitates from the solution, gradually forming travertine - snow-white deposits, ledges and natural basins. Cascades of shallow pools run down the slope of the plateau, with warm streams flowing over them.
The springs have been used since antiquity. In the Roman era the resort town of Hierapolis with baths and thermal complexes developed nearby. Today part of the site is open for walks along marked paths and for relaxing by the water in specially designated areas.
To protect the travertine there are restrictions: only barefoot movement on the white terraces, and bathing is allowed only in marked zones. Water flows are managed to preserve the deposits and depend on the season, so not all pools are filled at the same time. It is especially pleasant to visit at sunrise or in the evening when there are fewer people and the light is softer.
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Pamukkale Hot Springs - a natural thermal complex in the town of Pamukkale, Denizli province in southwestern Turkey. The name translates as "cotton castle". The white travertine terraces and the adjacent ancient city of Hierapolis have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.
The thermal waters here are rich in calcium and carbon dioxide. When they reach the surface, calcium carbonate precipitates from the solution, gradually forming travertine - snow-white deposits, ledges and natural basins. Cascades of shallow pools run down the slope of the plateau, with warm streams flowing over them.
The springs have been used since antiquity. In the Roman era the resort town of Hierapolis with baths and thermal complexes developed nearby. Today part of the site is open for walks along marked paths and for relaxing by the water in specially designated areas.
To protect the travertine there are restrictions: only barefoot movement on the white terraces, and bathing is allowed only in marked zones. Water flows are managed to preserve the deposits and depend on the season, so not all pools are filled at the same time. It is especially pleasant to visit at sunrise or in the evening when there are fewer people and the light is softer.
Follow the rules and choose morning or evening.
Bathing at the Pamukkale Hot Springs: temperatures and routes
The water emerges warm - about 35 °C, cooling as it flows downstream. The mineral composition includes calcium, bicarbonates and carbon dioxide, which causes the white travertine to form. Swimming on the terraces is not allowed, but you can walk through the shallow pools in marked areas; for full bathing the Ancient Pool, known as Cleopatra's Pool, is open with mineral water around 36 °C and fragments of ancient columns on the bottom (separate entrance fee applies).
What to see and do: walk along the upper edge of the terraces for panoramic views of the valley, stop at pools with the bluest water, and climb to the viewpoints on the plateau edge. It's convenient to plan your visit in the morning or 1-2 hours before sunset - the light is softer, there are fewer reflections on the white deposits, and it's easier to take photos.
There are several entrances: the Northern Gates lead through the necropolis and are convenient for visiting Hierapolis, the Southern Gates are closer to the Ancient Pool, and the entrance from the village of Pamukkale is at the foot of the terraces and is suitable if you want to see the cascades first. A popular route is: the theater and the Archaeological Museum of Hierapolis - the Ancient Pool - the descent to the terraces.
Nearby are the key sites of Hierapolis - a well-preserved Roman theater, an extensive necropolis, a colonnaded street and the Archaeological Museum of Hierapolis; you can reach the site from Denizli by dolmus from the bus station in 30-40 minutes, and from Denizli-Cardak Airport by bus to the bus station and then by dolmus.
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