Pamukkale, Turkey

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Pamukkale
Pamukkale is located in the Inner Aegean region
at a distance of 20 km from the town of Denizli
in Turkey.
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Pamukkale (Hierapolis) translates to Cotton
Castle. The great attraction is the white
immensity of the cliff with sculptured basins
full of water and congealed waterfalls they seem
done of snow, cloud, cotton.
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On approaching Pamukkale, the first thing you
will see is a rock platform over 100 m in height
rising up from the plain. The slopes of this
hill, which look from a distance like a great
white speck, are covered with large numbers of
pools and terraces. As you come nearer, you
will begin to see this natural phenomenon,
which resembles a frozen waterfall, in greater
detail.
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The scientific explanation is the hot thermal
places that lie under the mount provoke the
calcium carbonate spill, that makes the forms as
solid as Travertino marble.
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The temperature of the water forming the
travertines, which issues from the hot springs
on the hills above, falls to around 33C lower
down.
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Although the water flowing from the hot springs
on the southern slopes of Çaldað rapidly loses
heat during its flow through the open channels,
it is still hot enough to make it possible for
one to bathe (throughout six months of the year)
in the open-air swimming pools and on the
terraces.
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On emerging to the surface, the solution of
calcium-carbonate in the spring water decomposes
into carbon dioxide, calcium carbonate and
water. The carbon dioxide is released into the
air while the calcium carbonate separates off
from the water to form a grayish-white limestone
sediment.
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The beds of the water-courses are filled up with
these limestone deposits and the water,
confronted with these obstacles, splits up into
several branches.
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The water flows over the slopes into pools, the
small basins surrounding them and finally into
the fields below. It is in this way that these
terraces over 100 m in height composed of layers
of the accumulated limestone sediment have been
gradually formed in the course of the ages.
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As the limestone sediment reaches a certain level
the water accumulates in pools and, as these
pools fill up, overflows into smaller pools in
the vicinity and from these flows into the small
hollows and depressions around them.
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The limestone layers in the pools rise up in
steps, one above the other, and the continual
flow of water keeps this process in
operation. The stalactites form one of the most
important features in the landscape.
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With the formation of the layers and the
emergence of steps and terraces one above the
other, the water leaves the limestone deposit
behind it and drips down in the form of
stalactites, as in the Damlataþ caverns.
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The calcium oxide in the water adds to the
thickness of the white layers and widens the
terraces, producing pools in fantastic shapes
reminiscent of oyster shells or flower petals,
while the small amount of sulphur and iron oxide
produces stripes of yellow, red and green over
the white of the limestone.
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As much the cascades of calcium carbonate as the
water change color in accordance with changes of
the solar light that illuminates them, and the
effect is surprising.
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At times white, others blue, or green or other
colors. The spectacle is flaring.
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The continuous dynamics of the erosion and the
transformation of the natural landscape result
in an unusual environment.
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PAMUKKALE is one of the most unique phenomena in
nature.
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We can call PAMUKKALE the 8th Wonder of the
world.