Unmatched Natural Phenomena: Pamukkale

Pamukkale is a tourist attraction and a geological wonder. In Turkish, its name can get translated to the cotton castle. The numerous cascading white pools with brilliant turquoise water surfaces give the place its name. From afar, the white limestone walls appear to be an enormous castle made of fluffy cotton. The calcium-rich water from the springs carved these limestone walls. The calcium carbonate in the water ultimately forms a soft jelly that hardens into limestone.

Gallons of mineral-rich blue water get held in the hot spring terraces. This natural wonder is breathtaking to see, but it is also highly prone to any disruptions. As a result, guests must remove their shoes and walk barefoot amid the terraces on a designated path. It prevents the calcium deposits that create the natural layers from eroding.

Pamukkale is home to 17 hot springs. These hot springs have temperatures ranging from 35 to 100 degrees Celsius. Visitors may take a safe swim in the soothing water in one of many marked pools. It's probably not a terrible idea, especially because mineral-rich water offers many health benefits, including the ability to reduce blood pressure and relieve rheumatism.

Hierapolis, a historic Roman spa city, built around 190 B.C., is also located nearby. A pristine theatre and a necropolis with 2 km of tombs exist among the remains. It's no surprise that Pamukkale-Hierapolis is a tourist destination with a unique blend of natural and man-made wonders.

The underwater portion of Hierapolis may be the most fascinating of all Pamukkale. Following an earthquake, some of the old city's ruins were partially flooded. These remains can be found in a pool that was historically considered sacred. This pool is now named the Antique Pool. At this hot springs resort, the pool is the most popular public swimming spot. The pool is continually replenished by an influx of hot calcium-laden mineral water, surrounded by oleanders, palm trees, pines, and cypresses and littered with the fluted drums of fallen marble columns, plinths, and from the adjacent Temple of Apollo.

In 1988 Pamukkale, together with Hierapolis, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.