4. Hierapolis and Pamukkale

Early start today and its s short trip to Lake Salda which from the posters looks absurdly blue! We shall see!

Burdur is known as the City of Lakes, and the lake
known as the 'Turkish Maldives', for the bright turquoise blue of the lake and the surrounding white sandy beach. At right time of year it’s also surrounded by fields of lavender!

And it is blue!!!!
Lake Salda is a breathtaking natural wonder. This tectonic freshwater lake is one of the deepest and cleanest lakes in the world. The lake's rocky terrain and hills give it a unique character, and its white beach, similar to that of Mars they say is a remarkable sight.

It’s quiet and we take a walk down with maybe a swim …it is not so warm but the lake did justify a paddle which was refreshing !

Why has NASA been here ? Well there is a similar impact crater on Mars and the two basins contain similar mineralogy and geology.
Lake Salda is the only known lake on Earth that contains carbonate minerals and depositional features similar to those found at Jezero Crater on Mars which is thought to have once contained a lake.

The hydromagnesite sediments around Lake Salda are thought to have eroded from large mounds called “microbialites”—rocks formed with the help of microbes.

Onto Hierapolis which is a Roman-era health spa with spectacular rock formations below the ancient city of Hierapolis which form a blindingly white natural cascading fountain.

Waters from ancient hot springs spilling down the hillside for millennia have formed terraces of oyster-shell shaped pools, the white travertine constantly refreshed by the flow of the calcium rich waters.

It’s called the "Cotton Castle" in Turkish and the site has been celebrated as a natural wonder since the second century BC when the city of Hierapolis was formed around the healing waters.
It was a thriving metropolis during the Roman era, the city survived and was rebuilt several times following earthquakes, and it was not completely abandoned until 1300 AD.
The ruins are extensive, including a Nymphaeum fountain which distributed water throughout the city, a large amphitheatre as well as the remains of one of the largest ancient necropolis

There is also an entrance to the gates of Hades! The deadly vapors that still waft out of this "gate to hell" were once used in rituals to the gods of the underworld, and still claim the lives of unfortunate birds who get too close.
Known as Pluto's Gate, or Ploutonion in Greek, the set was discovered in 2013 after following a thermal spring. The site matches closely the description of the temple to the underworld that disappeared in the 6th century. 
Ancient Tourists were able to buy small birds or other animals (the sale of which supported the temple) and test out the toxic air that blew out of the cavern, which was connected to a temple with a pool. Only the priests who were high and hallucinating on the fumes, could stand on the steps by the opening to hell, and would sometimes lead sacrificial bulls inside, only to pull out their dead bodies dramatically. 
More recently it used to be still open at the entrance but some lads partying went in and didn’t come out ! It’s now got some serious gates but you still see the water bubbling from the escaping CO2 gas!

After exploring the ruins we wander down to try one of the ancient hot baths which has been opened to the public ! It’s very warm but you do have to dodge the odd pillar and column in the baths!

Together with the ruins of Hierapolis, Pamukkale is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Before the designation, the terraces were in danger of being destroyed through a combination of neglect and commercial development. Hotels were built at the top of the site, partly obscuring ruins of Hierapolis , and wear and tear of visitors had scarred and turned many of the pools brown.
Efforts to protect the delicate natural phenomenon have dramatically changed the area. Hotels have been demolished, and in an effort to allow the pools natural white appearance to be maintained, access to the pools is restricted, and water released from the spring is controlled and distributed to a few pools at a time.

As you can walk from the top to the bottom through the pools it’s best to go barefoot or have sandals on ….or my waterproof socks - which don’t stop the water but do safeguard against the odd sharp bumps!

It is amazing … a sort of cross between the pools of Yellowstone but thinking you might be walking in a winter snow wilderness ! It’s so bright!

A good day has been had and it’s back to a nice hotel and excellent swimming pool - oh yes ……,it’s also not a dry hotel too!
To the bar!

A good meal and then of course a disco version of belly dancing !

An early night too 10 pm !Read more