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LiveScience
LiveScience
Sascha Pare

Pamukkale: Turkey's 'cotton castle' of white limestone that inspired an ancient cult

View of the Pamukkale travertines in orange-pink light. We see rocky mountains in the background and pools of spring water in the foreground.
QUICK FACTS

Name: Travertines of Pamukkale

Location: Denizli province, southwest Turkey

Coordinates: 37.92387293371705, 29.123346443836517

Why it's incredible: Despite their snowy appearance, the travertines hold boiling thermal water.

Pamukkale is a town in Turkey that's famous for its dazzling travertine terraces and thermal water pools. The name, which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, hints at the height and snow-white color of the landmark, which stands in stark contrast to the surrounding arid plain.

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