Pamukkale @ Travel Turkey

Nicholas Cage movie will promote Pamukkale, officials say
News that a movie starring Nicholas Cage will be partially shot in Pamukkale in Denizli has created a wave of joy and excitement, according to media reports. January 17, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=ghost-rider-will-promote-pamukkale-more-off...

Pamukkale is a famous tourist attraction of Turkey. Tourists travel from the coast of Antalya and the Aegean Sea to Pamukkale, it is also recognized as a World Heritage Sites together with Hierapolis. Only a few other places in the world resemble it, including the Mammoth Hot Springs in the USA and Huanglong in Sichuan Province of China (another UNESCO World Heritage Site). Hierapolis-Pamukkale was made a World Heritage Site in 1988. The ruins of Greek temples and baths can be seen here.

The ancient city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white "castle" which is in total about 2700 meters long and 160m high. It can be seen from a great distance, eg. when driving down the hills on the opposite side of the valley to the town of Denizli, which is 20 km away.

Pamukkale can be reached from most of the coastal resorts on a one or two day trip but Kuşadası is the closest (4 hours drive away).

The tectonic movements that took place in the fault depression of the Menderes river basin did not only cause frequent earthquakes, but also gave rise to the emergence of a number of very hot springs. It is the water from one of these springs, with its large mineral content - chalk in particular - that created Pamukkale.

These sources were well-known in the Antiquity. They were described by the Roman architect Vitruvius. The Phrygian Greeks built Hierapolis on top of the hill. They ascribed medical properties to the spring water, bestowed by the gods, especially Asklepios (demigod of medicine) and his daughter Hygieia (goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation), under the protection of Apollo (god of medicine and healing).

Denizli has several nice sites for paragliding. There are a couple launches in the area; Dinamit Tepe (Dynamite hill), Gerald Hill and Cokelez Dagi (Cokelez Mountain).

Kaklık is another nice site in the area. Only 45 minutes drive away from Pamukkale. Locals use the site mostly for ridge soaring it has got a good XC potential.

For more information about paragliding opportunities in Pamukkale click here.

Pamukkale Article on Wikipedia

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