The Natural Wonder of Pamukkale, Turkey

Located about 20 miles west of the town of Denizli is one of Turkey’s most sought after tourist spots. Called ‘Pamukkale’ in the Turkish language which means ‘Cotton Castle’ in English, the site is natural wonder and is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The ancient city of Hierapolis can be found at the top of the site and is also recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The area remained hidden and was frequented by travelers in the past who stopped by to refresh themselves in the hot springs on the way to other places.

However, due to recent developments in the field of Tourism in Turkey, the site has been officially declared as a tourist site and draws hordes of visitors every year. A fair amount of hotel accommodations and restaurants have cropped up in the area which originally led to concerns about the natural beauty of the place being spoilt. However, Pamukkale is one such wonder that has been untouched by the growing civilization and still exudes its natural charm.

Origin:- The site is located in the Menderes Valley and the name “Cotton Castle” is rightly given to specify the glorious formation of white mineral deposits down the mountain side which gives it a cottony effect. According to sources, the area was subjected to severe tectonic movements which caused the crust to give away to numerous naturally hot springs and it is estimated that the water from these springs produce a chalk like mineral (touted to be limestone) that cover the entire area.

The caves in the area are filled with Carbon Dioxide which was also a result of the movement of the tectonic plates with the end result being the formation of Plutonium. Hence, the site also has the name of The Place of God (Pluto).

Significance of the place:- Called the Sacred Pool in ancient days, the 100 m high cavern is filled with pools of different sizes and filled with water at a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius. The water finds its origin at the top of the mountain range and flows down into a large pool from which it courses down into the smaller ones.

A detailed description of the site is necessary to understand the significance of the place. Water containing numerous minerals flows down from the top of the mountain and  first collects in a large pool from which the Calcium Carbonate content in the water rises to the surface. Upon surfacing, the compound degenerates to form water, calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide gas.

While most of the gas is released or fills the nearby caves, the calcium carbonate deposit(limestone) collects in the pool forming a white color sedimentation that covers the inner sides of the pool. Once the deposit has reached a certain limit, water flows out of the pool into smaller pools and the same process is repeated for all the pools in the entire area.

The end result is the natural wonder that you see, a completely white hills side, up to 100 m in height, filled with numerous pools in the shape of giant oysters and filled with hot water.

While the water course down the mountain, the calcium deposits in the pools thicken and forms steps (called stalactites) which gradually rise and branch off to from different pools. This is a continuous process and the formation of newer pools is an ongoing process.

Getting there:- Pamukkale is accessible by road and you have the option of choosing the most feasible route out of several established ones. One of the best possible routes (scenic as well) is from the West wherein you get the chance to drive through some really interesting Anatolian villages or follow the main road of Denizli.

Medicinal Powers of the Water:- Tourists flock from around the world to bathe in the warm waters in these springs which are believed to posses medicinal values. There are numerous cases of visitors to the place being cured of various illnesses ranging from asthma, eye problems, skin diseases and rheumatism to name a few.

But be cautious as to not leave back anything when you leave. If you lose an article in the pool and come back after a few days to search for it, there is no use. For the continuous formation of limestone in the pools covers anything that might have fallen into the pool within a few days and any hope of finding a lost object is futile.

There is no need to hunt for a spring as there are plenty around the area. In addition to enjoying a naturally formed Jacuzzi out in the open air, you get to view some really fantastic ruins of the Hierapolis city and bathing amongst these ruins makes you feel as if you were an ancient Greek God or Goddess.