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Hierapolis-Pamukkale
Ancient Hierapolis, today called Pamukkale, lies more or less on the boundary between Caria, Lydia and Phrygia. From Mugla it is about 110 miles, and from the nearest town Denizli, which is the provincial capital of that region, about 12 miles.
Very little is known of the history of Hierapolis, which probably lay on a caravan trail, until the Hellenistic epoch. It is presumed that some if its past is buried under the lime sinter terraces. Up to the battle in 190 BC between the Romans and Antiochus there was no settlement in the place where Hierapolis is. There was, however, a temple erected in honour of the thermal springs which had already been found there. This temple, which was called Hieron, was probably initially the sanctuary for Laodicea, just 5 miles away.
The town, promoted by the Romans, developed slowly round the temple, and was likewise named Hieron. Under Roman rule, from 133BC began a period of wealth and prosperity. Although the town was almost completely destroyed by earthquakes in the years 17AD and 60AD (under Nero), after its reconstruction in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD it reached its economic and cultural zenith. Particularly the time in the reigns of Septimus Severus and Caracalla is regarded as the town's "golden age".
In Roman times the population numbered some 100 000, mostly Greeks, Romans and Jews. A strong Jewish community resulted in an early penetration of Christianity into Hierapolis; see Colossians 4:13 in the Bible. The apostle Philip died a martyr's death there in the year 80AD. Later a church was consecrated to his memory, the so called "Martyrium of Philip". In Byzantine times Hierapolis became a diocesan town. At this time (12th century AD) a fortress was also built, to protect the valley and the cotton plantations; this explains the newer name of the place: Pamukkale (cotton castle).
The lime sinter terraces of Pamukkale are a unique natural wonder, not found anywhere else in the world. The sinter lime (meaning that which is deposited from mineral waters) comes from a warm spring containing large quantities of calcium carbonate in solution. When the thermal water wells up from its spring and is released from the pressure of gases, it spreads out over the land surface, while its concentrated content of carbon dioxide (CO²) escapes.
In this way the calcium carbonate contained in the water accumulates on the ground, which in the course of time forms the interesting, white shimmering travertines. Over the centuries this thermal water has laid so many lime deposits, that thick terraces have been formed. The travertines consist of various large half moon shaped shallow pools, which go down step by step like a terrace, and are connected with each other by stalactites of remarkable appearance. The viewer has a glorious panorama, especially around sunrise and sunset.
The terrace-like formations reach a size of 2000m length, and an average width of 300m; they are about 100m higher than the plain below. The water of the thermal spring has a temperature at the surface of 35°C (95°F). It pours out at a rate of 250 litres (55 gallons) per second, making 2 160 000 litres (475 000 gallons) per day. When this water evaporates it leaves a lime deposit of 2.2 gram per litre. That adds up to 4750 Kg (4.7 tons) per day and 1 735 000 Kg (1700 tons) per year; in 1000 years around 1.7 million tons. The rate of issue of the water has changed form time to time, particularly after big earthquakes. Some springs have even dried up, and others nearby have started to gush out again. The thermal waters are used today, as in antiquity, for therapeutic purposes.
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