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| PAMUKKALE |
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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. |
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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.
Climate
The summers are hot and dry, and winters warm and rainy.
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