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The beautiful terraced pools of Pamukkale are one of
Turkey's most important highlights. The Turks named the site Pamukkale
which means "cotton castle" for its unusual sparkling white castle-like
cascades. The warm and mineralized spring water flowing from calcareous
white steps create an unmatched landscape. The famous thermal pools of
Pamukkale and its rich history attracts tourists from around the globe.
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Pamukkale is located in the Turkish city of Denizli. Denizli means
"located by the sea", although the city is no where near the coast, it
is believed that the name was given due to large underground water
resources of the area. Denizli has always been a cradle of
civilizations. Its fertile lands have been home to a number of
civilizations, Persians, Greeks, Romans and Muslims being the notable.
The formation of this amazing landscape can be attributed to the strong
earthquakes that have shook the country for centuries. These earthquakes
formed cracks allowing water, rich in calcium carbonate, to come to the
surface. As the water evaporated, layers upon layers of calcium
carbonate deposited forming the unusual travertine of Pamukkale as we
see it today.
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Pamukkale has always had a special place among the people of the area.
Thus the Greco-Romans built a town above it, called Hierapolis - the
"Holy City". It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the
valley. The ancient site of Hierapolis contains temples and baths and
add to the importance of the site.
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Pamukkale is not only famous as an unusual travertine, its warm waters
are also known to cure a number of diseases and are believed to be
specially beneficial to the skin. According to one legend, there was a
young girl who was ugly and unmarried. As no one wanted to marry her,
she decided to commit suicide and jumped off the travertine. She fell
into a natural pool and did not die but was instead turned into a
beautiful lady. The Lord of Denizli saw her and fell in love. They were
soon married.
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But the healing power of the water is not only limited to legends. Even
scientific research has proved the medical benefits of the Pamukkale
waters. The mineral water of Pamukkale helps in high blood pressure,
strokes, rheumatism and a number of skin problems. Thus, the amazing
site of Pamukalle attracts visitors from around the world, who come here
to sooth their bodies with the warm spring water or just their eyes with
the breath taking scenery. |