Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey

Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle", in Turkish, is a natural site, in Denizli Province, in south western Turkey. The area, is famous for, a carbonate mineral, left by the flowing of thermal spring water. It is located in Turkey's, Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate, for most of the year.

The ancient Greek city of Hierapolis meaning holy city, was built on top of the travertine formation, which is in total about, 2,700 metres long, 600 m wide and 160 m high. It can be seen from the hills, on the opposite side of the valley, in the town of Denizli, 20 km away. Known as Pamukkale, or ancient Hierapolis, this area, has been drawing visitors, to its thermal springs, since the time of Classical antiquity. The Turkish name, refers to the surface of the shimmering snow-white limestone, shaped over millennia, by calcite-rich springs. Dripping slowly down the mountainside, mineral-rich waters collect in and cascade down the mineral terraces, into pools below. Legend has it that, the formations are solidified cotton, that giants left out to dry. Cotton Being the area's principal crop.

People have visited the area for thousands of years, due to the attraction of the thermal pools. As recently as the mid-20th century, hotels were built over the ruins of Hierapolis, causing considerable damage. An approach road, was built from the valley, over the terraces, and motor bikes were allowed to go up and down the slopes. When the area was declared, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotels were demolished, and the road removed, and replaced with artificial pools. There are well-preserved Roman ruins, and a museum on site. A small footpath runs up the mountain face, for visitors to use, however the travertine terraces, are all off-limits, having suffered damage, erosion and water pollution, due to tourism.

The museum, contains historical artifacts, from Hierapolis, as well as those from Laodiceia, Colossae, Tripolis, Attuda and other towns of the Lycos valley. The museum also has a section, devoted to artifacts found at Beycesultan Hüyük, that includes examples of Bronze Age craft.

It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1988 with Hierapolis.