The wonderful white world of Pamukkale
Trip Start
Dec 20, 2010
1
56
95
Trip End
Dec 14, 2011
Denizli, Denizli, Turkey
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Pamukkale consists of a large area of calcium carbonate deposits and pools called Travertines, created by calcium rich waters. It is world heritage listed, and I imagine looks somewhat like what the Pink and White terraces used to look like in New Zealand. What I didn’t realize is that the area is still being formed so the mineral rich waters still flow. Everywhere is like a gushing waterfall, cascading over the white carbonate deposits. What we also didn’t realise, is that you can walk all over the area, and swim in the pools. I was so pissed off I didn’t know this and didn’t wear my bikini!
Due to the highly white nature of the deposits, the reflections are crazy and so you walk around in a bit of a blind daze. However, the colour of the water in the naturally made pools is a beautiful soft blue. A few areas are yellow or orangish in colour due to different minerals, but generally everything else is a brilliant white, which contrasts amazingly against the sky and the surrounding hills.
The pools have been used since Roman times – behind the travertines are the ruins of the spa city of Hierapolis covering an enormous area. My god this country has so many ruins, we are almost starting to get bored of them!
Apart from the travertines and the ruins, there was not much else to see in this small town, so we were in and out in a day. From here we are off to Ephesus (more ruins!) on the south Aegean Coast.
Comments
What beautiful scenery. It does look like parts of Rotorua and the silica terraces at the Chateau. Make the most of it and good luck with your "Brisbane business!'