Turkey - Pamukkale limestone terraces

First of all: For us, this is one of the most beautiful natural phenomena we have experienced on our travels.

Pamukkale, a geological phenomenon in Turkey known for its impressive sinter terraces and healing thermal springs, has an eventful history behind it. Over thousands of years, warm waters have created these unique formations, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. However, greed for profit and tourism have jeopardised the snow-white pools through water drainage and pollution.

In the 1990s, UNESCO intervened to save the natural beauty. The hotels above the terraces were demolished, a bathing and access ban was introduced and the hotels below the terraces were rebuilt. This led to a gradual recovery and restoration of the "cotton castle".

The travertines are formed when the thermal water, which is 35.6 °C warm and rich in calcium hydrocarbonate, reacts with the air and precipitates calcium carbonate. This process takes place along a 320 metre long channel, with the water forming layers of 60 to 70 metres over a distance of 240 to 300 metres. The initial gelatinous precipitate hardens over time, with the white colour of the travertine being influenced by various factors such as weather and water flow.

So we buy two tickets online and set off early in the morning after admiring the balloons once again. Separate sinter terraces have been created for the tourists. We read later: "Nevertheless, visitors are given the illusion of being able to walk barefoot through parts of the dream landscape. On the former road through the sinter terraces, artificial basins have been created, which have gradually been covered with a layer of limestone due to the sinter precipitation of the water flowing over them and have long since taken on a natural appearance". But we don't care about this little scam on us tourists this morning!

The rocks are arse-cold, the nights are only around 7 degrees "warm" and the water down on the mountain is icy. After our feet ache from the cold - we have to walk barefoot! - it's also good to get away from the chalky corrugations. Halfway down, the water gets warmer and the sun shines on the mountain. We relax our feet and can now enjoy the sinter terraces. At some point we reach the top and realise that coaches are arriving here. It's getting crowded here. It's a good thing we did the first stage so early, as we were still almost alone.

Up here, where the hotels used to stand, you can still admire the original terraces. We learn that unfortunately there is not enough water here either. The terraces are not watered haphazardly, but are completely filled once a month. The remaining water is channelled in such a way that the entire slope is evenly irrigated and "calcified". Thanks to the intervention of UNESCO, Pamukkale has once again become a beautiful natural wonder.

For us, at any rate, this is one of the most beautiful natural phenomena we have experienced on our travels.

Sources: https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/179361.pamukkale-erholt-sich-langsam-wieder.html & https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/denizli/gezilecekyer/pamukkale-termal-sulari

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Merci for "travelling with us

We are thinking about taking another break from travelling in the summer and visiting our families in Germany and Switzerland. One of the ideas is to organise a Lecture about our long journey to the Persian Gulf to prepare. If you would like to, what would interest you the most? We will also tell stories here that don't find a place here on the blog. We're thinking of the Bern and Berlin area - simply because we have family there. But other places are also conceivable. Feel free to write to us.

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