03Cities and regions

Denizli Province

Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Pamukkale means 'cotton castle' in Turkish, and it lies in Denizli Province in southwestern Türkiye. Down the hillside flow white terraces of travertine, a sedimentary rock left by mineral-rich water from hot springs, which from afar looks like snow or cotton. The formation is about 2,700 metres long, 600 metres wide and 160 metres high, and the area has 17 hot springs ranging from 35 to 100 °C. On top of the terraces stood the Greek city of Hierapolis, founded in the third century BC, whose waters were used as a spa since at least the second century BC. Its ruins include a theatre that seated 15,000, the Frontinus Gate with three arches between round towers, and a necropolis that runs for more than two kilometres along the old road. The site joined the World Heritage List in 1988. To protect the terraces, the water flow is managed and some sections close from time to time so the formations can recover. Come early in the morning or before sunset, when the light is soft on the white stone.

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Length of the terraces

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Hot springs

1988

World Heritage since