Ancient Pool

Pamukkale, meaning 'cotton castle' in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral left by the flowing of thermal spring water. The ancient Greek city of Hierapolis was built on top of the travertine formation, which is approximately 2,700 meters long, 600 meters wide, and 160 meters high. The site has been a popular destination for its thermal springs since classical antiquity and was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The hot springs have been used as a spa since at least the 2nd century BCE, and the area is also home to a large necropolis filled with tombs. Hierapolis was founded as a thermal spa early in the 2nd century BC and became a major city in the Roman Empire, known for its wool fabrics, dyes, and as the birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus