Visit of one of the Mother Nature’s phenomena “Pamukkale”, which translated into English means “Cotton Castle” . Over thousand of years hot mineral waters had burst from the earth to run through the ancient city of Hieropolis before cascading down over a cliff. These waters contained a high content of calcium which solidify into snowy white travertens: Water falls of white stone in laid with layer upon layer of small pools filled with the calcium rich warm mineral water. The ancient city of Hieroplis was cure center, famous for the health giving properties of its mineral waters and hot springs. Founded in about 200 BC, it prospered under the Romans and later the Byzantines.

The stunning white calcium pools, which cling to the side of a ridge, have long been one of the most famous picture postcard views of Turkey. Pamukkale, literally meaning “cotton castle”, is also the site of the ancient city of Hierapolis of which there are many interesting ruins, and is a very popular destination for a short visit.

Pamukkale was formed when a spring with a high content of dissolved calcium bicarbonate cascaded over the edge of the cliff, which cooled and hardened leaving calcium deposits. This formed into natural pools, shelves and ridges, which tourists could plunge and splash in the warm water.

Hotels were springing up from the 1970s to cater for the large influx of tourists, and shortly afterwards UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. But by the 1990s, this took its toll on the state of the calcium pools and restrictions were placed on these travertine terraces. Many hotels were knocked down, visitors are only allowed on major paths around the sites, and must remove footwear to stand on the calcium deposits. This seems to have been a successful move, as the water supply is now used for preservation and some of the damaged calcium deposits have been strengthened.