Page 133 - Super Earth Encyclopedia
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BLUE CASCADE
PAMUKKALE
In the mountains of western Turkey, heat from molten
rock deep beneath the surface has triggered the eruption
of hot springs at Pamukkale, near the city of Denizli.
The hot water is rich in calcium carbonate, dissolved
from limestone rocks below the ground. When the water
bubbles up into the air, a chemical reaction makes the
calcium carbonate turn into the mineral travertine.
Over thousands of years this process has built up a series
of extraordinary travertine terraces that cascade down
the slope like an icy staircase dripping with water.
However, instead of being icy cold, the water is steaming
hot, and has been used for bathing since Roman times.
AT A GLANCE
• LOCATION Denizli Province in
southwestern Turkey
• HEIGHT OF TERRACES 525 ft (160 m)
• SIZE 1.7 miles (2.7 km) long
• STATUS World Heritage Site
STATS AND FACTS
17 COTTON CASTLE ANCIENT CITY
NUMBER OF HOT SPRINGS Pamukkale means The ancient city
“cotton castle” in of Hierapolis
Turkish, referring was destroyed
to the appearance by an earthquake
of the terraces. in 1354.
Pamukkale is the
site of Hierapolis, TEMPERATURE Temperature in the hot
water springs range from
a health resort built 95°F–212°F (35°C–100°C).
by the Romans.
°C 30 60 90 120
°F 100 200 WATER WORLD
1,050
SPRING WATER TRAVELS
FEET
(320 M)
TO THE
TERRACES
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