Pamukkale - castle, white as cotton
Pamukkale is a Turkish resort town in the province of Denizli, situated 30 km north of Denizli, but also is one of the most remarkable phenomena of Turkey.
Whiteness and shape of rock formations, spanning about 3000 meters, they look like if they were made of cotton. Hence the name of a natural phenomenon - Castle of Pamukkale or Cotton.
History and nature of Pamukkale attract thousands of tourists from around the world with equal force - can not be whether visitors come here, impressed by the natural beauty or mysterious archaeological ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis.
Asphalt road from the town of Denizli, passing through dense forest, leads directly to Pamukkale. Suddenly the sight, like fluffy clouds, white of snow rises rock cairns - in fairy tales. In the odd stone formed in the tops of their glasses shine small wells and the water they flow gracefully on the rock steps like champagne in Pamukkale. Contrasting with the sparkling white emerald-green valleys, extending into the foothills of carved stone, creating even more enchanting atmosphere.
Hot springs of Pamukkale spring from the bowels of the mountain Cal Daa Western Anatolia, Turkey. Water temperature 35 degrees out, bubbled beneath the earth, and amazing stunts descends down a series of about a hundred balconies. Water jets are carved balconies and recesses formed in warm waters. Most have a dazzling white, but some are yellow or brown. Unfortunately, environmental pollution affects the freshness of the colors. Over time the rocks are more and more experience in
Springs of Pamukkale are very healing - history has preserved evidence that many emperors (and today many celebrities) visited the area to treated with curative waters disorders of the cardiovascular activity , neurological diseases, rheumatism, skin diseases, rickets, paralysis and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
Is known legend about a girl who cursed the fate that was not born beautiful, and threw herself off the cliff of Pamukkale. But having fallen in the water at once it was saved by a young hunter, son of the patron saint of Denizli, who fell in love with her at first sight and it took a wife. Healing waters of Pamukkale had transformed the face of the girl and the ugly duckling turned it into a beautiful swan.
Next to Pamukkale lies the ancient city of Hierapolis, which has huge historical significance. The remains from different historical periods and cultures made it an important arheological center.
The most remarkable remains of buildings in it were theater, Temple of Apollo, the Roman baths, necropolis and other sarcophagi.
It is believed that the founder of the ancient city of Hierapolis was Bergama King Eumenes II. In the prime of his Hellenistic period the city became one of the most important cultural centers, but later fell into the possession of the Roman Empire. Over 17 years of the new era, the era of Tiberius, in 69 BC, in the age of Nero, Hierapolis was rocked by two huge earthquakes that literally deleted it from the earth, then he was reborn again.
Brilliant cultural and economic prosperity of the city over centuries peaked in Byzantine times, when the settlement was proclaimed by Constantine the Great as the capital of Phrygia field.
Today, archaeological excavations revealed many secrets of ancient Hierapolis - Temple of Apollo and the theater never cease to fascinate tourists.
The most revered god in Hierapolis was Apollo. His temple was built in the III century AD on a cave full of poisonous gas plutonium (named after the god Pluto). In the past, the cave was a place for trial of the monks who came here, taking with them their animals died, but God's deputies, barely breathing, kept alive, proving its superiority over other mortals.
The ruins in the southern part of town, which today operate as a museum in the past represented baths. The pool with healing mineral water, which itself is bathed and Cleopatra, now fly the ancient ruins of Hierapolis - great attraction for tourists.
Hierapolis - Pamukkale is one of the sites on the List of World Heritage by UNESCO.
