Hot Springs of Heirapolis by brewgirlca
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Description
Worth a full size peek!
This is what Hierapolis, in southwest Turkey, is all about and why this ancient site is now a UNESCO world heritage site. These are travertine hot springs - very similar to those in Yellowstone in USA.
Hierapolis was founded in the 2nd century BCE by the Greeks as a healing center. At its peak use, by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, there where at least 15 baths and major pools. One of them was used by Cleopatra when she visited the city and that pool, which still bears her name, is preserved today.
Until 1988 the upper slope on the right was completely occupied by huge hotels. It was a very popular site but it was being totally wrecked by careless development and the pools were collapsing. With the cooperation of the Turkish Government it was declared a World Heritage Site and by 2000 all the hotels had been torn down. It was a huge controversy but the Turkish government persevered. I wonder, would the U.S. government have had the jam to declare Yellowstone a National Park in 1988 if Teddy Roosevelt had not already made it so? Something to think about.
Water from the hot springs bubbles out onto the surface and as it does so it loses calcium carbonate. It leaves these massive deposits of inorganic limestone called travertine, which very conveniently forms these beautiful series of terraced pools on the sides of the mountain. The Turkish people call this area Pamukkale, which means cotton castle.
Yes, you can see people in the pools. Every day a limited number of tickets are sold so that some people can still experience the hot spring pools. And you can see the ruins of one of the ancient bath houses.
The vapors which come from this site are associated with Pluto, the God of the Underworld. There are caves in the side of the mountain that were used as sites of worship of that God. But when the Christians took over the city they sealed off all these caves.
Previous Heirapolis
"Heirapolis-east wall"
"Heirapolis-east wall"
Comments (37)
Faemike55
Very impressive area! I'm glad the Government did what it needed to in order to save the site
vyktohria
OMG! I thought that was snow - lmao! But what would snow be doing in Turkey?! This is just spectacular!
pixeluna
I agree, this is quite spectacular, Roxy! Thank you for the information, you are quite a well of these amazing facts! :-)
MineFujiko
Wow! Beautiful and Amazing! Roxy-sensei I've watch here yesterday on TV.:)
Chipka
I have always wanted to visit this place, and I'm not entirely certain, but I think there's a similar site in Albania or somewhere like that! I could be seriously wrong, however. I love this shot. That's such a surreal landscape: truly alien, and that appeals to me, massively. I'm glad that this area is protected and is actually a UNESCO site; it should be preserved! What I really like about this shot, however, is the intensity of it and the scale. The people bathing look truly tiny (maybe it's distance, or maybe not, but it's a great effect. I'd love to see this place on my own, and I hope that I can at some point. I'm also glad that Turkey has gotten its act together (at least a little bit) and started protecting a bit of its heritage. It was a bit hairy in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as Turkey seemed to like half-wit/half-effort developers more than Turkish history. This is an impressive shot.
zil2008
What a beautiful place. Thought it was snow until I saw all the people in their swimsuits. Beautiful capture!
SidheRoseGraphics
Wow! What an amazing sight/place. It really does cover everything doesn't it? Interesting bit about Pluto. I guess being relegated to a planetoid wasn't his first slight, was it? Thanks for the image and info, Roxy.
lonely_wolf
Wonderful shot!
whaleman
Fascinating photo and story!
odile
This is a most beautiful place! Thanks for sharing this and great interesting information about the place.
vitachick
I too thought it was snow. Thought to myself...Hmm Turkey gets snow???
auntietk
What a beautiful place! I've heard of it before, but your image is fabulous!
fallen21
Amazing place, awesome photo.
nefertiabet
Wonderful landscape and place!!!Wonderful shot and thanks for info!!!
nitegrafix
So cool ! Looks likes one of the places on one of the Jason and the Argonauts TV movies. Great capture!
twelvemark21
What an amazing landscape. Excellent photo and fascinating info.
3dpoetry
Awesome shot and meaning behind it
capelito
Great photo!
eekdog Online Now!
what an amzing place and capture hon.
magnus073
This really is fantastic looking Roxie, what a truly epic view
1010
Did you venture in? The zoom really shows the details. An awesome shot!
tamburro
Fantastic place Roxy, great capture my friend! Hugs:)
deweygg
Facinating information and wonderful photo as well!
shingleboot
Very pretty, and so relaxing to view. I can only imagine what it would be like to actually sit in one
drifterlee
I'm amazed they have snow there, Beautiful shot!
jayfar
This is magnificent and you have captured it very well.
RJS
A breathtakingly beautiful shot, Roxy. Those white terraces are a wonder to behold. And the historical info is also fascinating - I knew very little about this site, and nothing about these travertine pools. Thanks for sharing.
scifibabe
I loved your historical info on this photo. Really intriguing and thought provoking. Wonderful shot too. Great stuff.
RodS
A great photo, Roxy, I'm fascinated by the almost pure white of these springs... I've seen the ones in Yellowstone (one of my favorite places in the USA), but I don't remember them being this pure white. Apparently there are different impurites in the minerals there. And of course you'd be in another kind of 'hot water' if you tried to get into one of the pools in Yellowstone... Glad the Turkish gov't had the kahoonas to stand up to the developers -and you bring up a very good question about Yellowstone - Thank God for Teddy Roosevelt!
adorety
Beautiful pic. Nice how you got a great sampling of the springs so the terraces are very visible. Nice to know some countries would actually tear down hotel to preserve nature, history and heritage. I think we lucked out early in this country, because I couldn't imagine anyone in this country going back. I'm lucky where I live, too, as we have a very active Open Space group. Much of the area around me is preserved and the Open Space group has been able to generate some good funding to buy up old farms and even some abbandoned facilities and remote, old office parks. Very nice tour you're taking us on.