Sights of Turkey: Pamukkale
At the top of the Greater Menders Valley, 29 km from Saraikey and 20 km from Denizli, there is one of the most famous natural monuments of Turkey – Pamukkale (Pamukkale).
Nature Monument
This unique complex of mineral springs, entered into the UNESCO World Heritage List, is the edge of the ancient volcanic plateau Kuciuk-Chekelevis, towering over the valley of more than 100 meters. Numerous thermal sources (temperature + 30-45 ° C) with oarsaturated calcium bicarbonate water run from slopes with dozens of streams, forming a snow-white travertine terrace due to salts. For many centuries, this white "shroud" covered the whole slope, and now Pamukkale ("Cotton Fortress") Missed really resembles a huge cotton mountain, laid out by giants for drying. And at sunrise and sunset the slopes of the mountains are painted in all shades of ocher, purple and pink colors.
- Lime Cascades
- The ruins of the hierarpolis
- Bathing Cleopatra
The terraces are similar to huge baths – water accumulates on each of them, forming a shallow, ankle, pools. Now it is forbidden to walk on terraces – only certain sections are allocated to visit, but you can swim in the famous Cleopatra baths lying at the foot of the plateau.
Monuments of antiquity
The healing properties of Pamukkale waters, known in the time of antiquity, always attracted people here. Once next to the slope stood the city of Laodicia, founded in the second millennium to the new era, in 190 before. NS. In his place built a sacred city Jerapolis, who repeatedly destroyed earthquakes and restored again. In ancient times, local wealthy citizens laid a whole system of watercourses for hot water Pamukkale, pulling it into private pools and terms, thus damaging part of the lower terraces. But the city itself turned not only in a major cult center of his time, but also in one of the most famous balneological resorts, which rested the rulers of all the times and peoples that inhabited the territory of modern Turkey.
In good condition, such unique monuments are preserved as a restored Roman Theater (II in. N. NS.) whose hill splashed on the slopes of the hill could accommodate from 7 to 15 thousand spectators (used in our days during the colorful festival Pamukkale), the picturesque colonnade of the main street, Nymphi, the complex of the term Cleopatra (still acts and is the most popular tourist attraction Pamukkale ), the temple of Apollo (III in. N. NS.), Pluto’s sanctuary with a small grotto, which begins the cave filled with poisonous gases (closed for visiting), Martyrie of St. Philip (beginning V. N. NS.) in honor of one of the apostles killed in the hierarpolis in 87. NS., and monumental gates of the Arch of Domitian with three openings (I in. N. NS.). The necropolis of the Jerapolis is the largest complex of ancient burial on the territory of Malaya Asia – the tombs of different eras stretched on both sides of the road by more than 2 km.
The combined site of the ancient city and the terraces are open daily, around the clock, the entrance fee (5 try) is charged only for the entrance to the daytime.
Balneological resorts
The thermal center is located on the plateau Pamukkale Thermal Baths (Open daily from 8.00 to 20.00, input – 18 TRY), which has its own pool with mineral water (temperature + 35 ° C). Tourist office works daily from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 19.30, phone – (0258) 264-39-71. Located in the complex of the term II century n. NS. Museum Pamukkale Open daily, except Monday, from 8.00 to 20.00 (entrance – 2 TRY), and the large Byzantine Basilica of the VI century, towering immediately behind it, is open.
At the top of the slope, 7 km directly from the most "White Mountain", Lies another thermal complex – Khakhat (Kyrmy-Su – "Red water"). Here is a completely different mineral composition of thermal waters and completely different specialization. From a small slide at a speed of up to 40 liters per second flows "striped" Reliable water of all shades of red with a temperature from +40 to + 60 ° C. Another source with sulfur waters of thirty degree temperature treats skin diseases, and the third, which actually fills the baths of the terraces, attribute rejuvenating properties. Local waters help from a variety of diseases, so the carghaty is very popular with the Turks themselves as an excellent medical center, besides, not spoiled by the special attention of tourists and therefore allowing all the procedures in compliance with the Canons of Islam.
Around the city
13 km south of Pamukkale, the road connecting it with Denizli is the ruins of an ancient city Laodicia. A small plateau, clamped between two river valleys and forever snow-covered axle ridges (height up to 2571 m), served as a convenient point for monitoring two important trading routes through the mountains. The settlement was founded in the III century BC. NS. Antiochum II on the site of an even older diopolis city. The fortress quickly grew into a rich city, and during the time of Byzantium became an important center for the spread of Christianity (it was here that one of the very first churches of Malaya Asia was located). The destructive earthquakes of the fifth century and the Seljuk conquest forced the inhabitants to leave the city and establish modern Denizli, and Laodicia itself remained bright, albeit a little-known, historical landmark of Turkey. Now you can see a dilapidated nymphum, as a strongly affected stadium (I in. N. NS.), gymnasiums, the term term, the foundation of the Ionian temple and two theaters are big and small.
Reviews and studies of trips
Amphitheater ancient Jerapolis
The Amphitheater was perhaps the main city building of the ancient city of Jerapolis, founded in the 2nd century to our era. Now at this place the modern Turkish city of Pamukkale read more →
Ayrat72 | Summer 2015
Peeling Stop and rejuvenation procedures at sunset
It is believed that Cleopatra loved to take baths from this mineral water to preserve youth and beauty. Unique mineral water brought fame Pamukkale. Read more →
Firefly patrick | Autumn 2014
White white
In the south-west of Turkey in the province of Denizli, there is an incredible beauty. Natural attraction. According to the protrusions on the snow-white slope of the mountain, water flows through the terraces. Read more →
