Known for its white terraces, Pamukkale in Turkey is a natural wonder. The mineral-rich water slowly dripping from the slope forms cascading terraces. Calcium carbonate is deposited as a soft gel which later crystallizes into travertine. Over thousands of years, the calcite-rich spring waters have transformed the mountain into thermal pools.
From the 2nd century BC hot springs were used as a spa. The ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis was built above the terraces of Pamukkale. Hotels built here in the 1960s destroyed part of the ancient city and drained thermal waters into their pools, reducing the flow of water on the natural terraces. When Pamukkale was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, the hotels were demolished. The road leading to the hotels was covered with artificial pools, but the damaged water supply seems to be permanent. For this reason, most natural pools are dry. There is only enough water to allow the water flow through the artificially created pools on the old hotel road.
