Pamukkale, meaning the "cotton castle" in Turkish, is located in Denizili in southwestern Turkey. It is a natural hot springs that are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock. It is most famous for the carbonate mineral that the flowing water leaves behind.
Pamukkale contains 17 hot springs in which the temperature ranges from 35-100 degrees Celcius. The spring water is transported 320 meters to the head of the terraces, depositing calcium carbonate on the first 60-70 meters. The calcium carbonate is deposited by the water as a soft gel, and it eventually crystallizes into travertine.
Legends say that this natural wonder was created by cotton (the area's principal crop) that was left out to dry by giants. The ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis was built on the top of this "castle". It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley.
Tourism is a major industry in the area. At one point, hotels were built over the ruins if Hierapolis, causing lots of damage. A road was also built over the slopes. Both were demolished and removed when Pamukkale became a World Heritage Site in 1988.
