Artificial Water Terraces, a photo from Denizli, Aegean

Photographer's Note

Pamukkale (cotton castle or fortress Cotton) is a Turkish village in the valley Curuksu (in ancient times known as the Valley of Lycos), about 18 km from Denizli.

Pamukkale hot springs flow from Cal Dagi mountain slopes in western Anatolia, Turkey. Water at 37 Â° C is rich in dissolved calcium salts, which precipitate to fall into the valley like a series of cascades. On the slopes of a hill, thresholds are formed, creating semicircular and elliptical thermal water pools in the form of terraces. This process has been continuing uninterrupted for more than 14,000 years. These structures in Roman times were called trawertynami and are now called travertines. Most look like snow, but some have a yellowish or brown tint.

You may have seen photos of this incredible place - bright white formations protruding and â€œdrippingâ€ from the mountainside, filled with shimmering blue water. Those photos of pristine white terraces were taken in the 1980s. I was surprised to see in photos that people walking around with shoes, bathing and washing themselves with soap and shampoo in the pools and riding bikes and motorbikes up and down the slopes....I wondered whether the formations donâ€™t get dirty?! Thermal water was also diverted for the nearby â€œthermal hotels,â€ causing to water flow to the terraces to cease.

Finally, someone figured out that their main attraction was no longer attractive, and things are now being done to try to restore the site to its former glory. When the area was declared a World Heritage Site, a National Park was created to protect the travertine. Built on top of the slope, the numerous hotels which had contributed to the gradual drying of thermal water sources and increasing environmental degradation were demolished. In 1997 the road leading to the natural terraces was closed. A road ramp they had been inexplicably built into the terraces in the 1980â€™s has been turned into artificial pools. This area is the only place open for tourists to walk through, but barefooted. Water released from the spring is now controlled and distributed only to a few pools at a time, in an effort to allow the pools natural white appearance to be maintained. The flow of water (quantity and place of flow) is regulated by the park staff in order to evenly supply the natural and artificial pools. The calcium content of flowing water is so high that it can cover the sediment thickness of 1 mm area of approximately 4.9 km2 per year.

The terraces look gorgeous with the turquoise pools of water

pierrefonds, cornejo, janjan1897, jhm, ManuMay, PaulVDV, adores, omid266, abmdsudi, papagolf21, kordinator, Graal, Royaldevon, ChrisJ, macjake, COSTANTINO, Didi ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (92724) 2015-03-10 2:24

Hello Angshuman,
This still (or again) looks gorgeous, with the "snowy" slopes and turquoise pools surrounded by tones of yellow and pink. The relatively few visitors also make me feel more content. I always disliked the idea of large groups of tourists swarming all over this place, even before I fully realized the damage they caused. Your note describes this very well. This is a beautiful photo where the persons are evenly spread out without disturbing the view of the rocks and the pools. The exposure couldn't be better.
Kind regards,
Gert

GiovanniG (3850) 2015-03-10 2:30

Salam Angshuman,
Splendid capture with a unique prospective. Great colors and detail. Reminds me of a similar place we have in Yellowstone Park in the U.S. it's called Mammoth Hot Springs. Same kind of travertine terraces with hot springs giving the minerals. Well done sir.
Regards,
GiovanniG

dta (98518) 2015-03-10 3:03

Hello Angshuman ,
The so famous Pamukkale pools revisited ... but for the best . Because here the contrast of lighting with the BG is really attractive . The pools of turquoise water are so beautiful . Some people to give the scale , but not too much as sometimes .
Regards

Nicou (193806) 2015-03-10 3:52

Hlelo

Ce blanc ce bleu clair et les personnage quelle vue et ces belles formes fantastique ensemble et image.
Bravo et amitiÃ©
Nicou

shreya2000 (2815) 2015-03-10 4:13

Dear Dada,

Very good panoramic view taken by you. Good detail also written by you. I like the slopes of the ice and the back ground. Nice one.

Regards,
joginder

pierrefonds (103384) 2015-03-10 4:32

Hi Angshuman,

The presence of the people has an effect of scale. The point of view is showing the details of the artificial water terrace. The good luminosity is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

kasianowak (15760) 2015-03-10 4:57

Hi Angshu
Beautiful colours! This is the place in Turkey I want to visit next time I go there. Thank you for sharing.
Best wishes
Kasia

cornejo (61504) 2015-03-10 5:11

Hello Angshu very good picture of this beautiful view of the interesting place. Very well captured in this beautiful image with good sharpness, nice light, color and quality. Great and interesting job perfectly done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.

Good afternoon and happy week.
Best wishes from the south of Spain.
Angel.

janjan1897 (2301) 2015-03-10 5:37

Hello Angshu,
Nice shot of this interesting place and scene. Well chosen viewpoint looking along these natural baths to the landscape beyond. The white layers of calcium provide a wonderful contrast with the lush BG greenery, and the people in the scene give us a good idea about the scale of the place. Very informative note that clearly describes this unique sight. Well done.
Have a nice day.
Jean

jhm (202823) 2015-03-10 5:47

Hello Angshu,

Thank you very much to the excellent note, without note this would very difficult to see the reality.
The slope to the top make your picture a nice panorama.
A wonderful clarity and sharpness, excellent captured.
Very well composition nice presentation too.
Nice done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

npecanhuk (79329) 2015-03-10 6:38

Hello Angshuman!
Magnificent place!
Very beautiful and attractive picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, horizontal format, chosen pov and composition are all excellent!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

Sergiom (117241) 2015-03-10 6:58

BOnjour Angshuman,

A première vue on pense voir une piste de ski et en regardant de plus près on réalise qu'on s'est complètement trompé. C'est magnifique cette glace qui prend d'agréables couleurs.

Amicalement

Serge

mkamionka (61018) 2015-03-10 9:00

Hi Angshu,
I am proud to see that you have use the very same POV to present these unique rock formations (CLICK HERE to see my photo).
You were lucky to have fewer people walking there. They are of course quite useful as they allow to imagine the scale of this place but in my photo may be there were a bit too many of them.
Great spot excellent presentation!
M

ManuMay (36447) 2015-03-10 10:32

Hi Angshuman!

This is one of special places in the world...amazing nature to enjoy!

The upper point of view deserves a very good composition using the background to enhance contrasts and light over the pools, great colours and sharpness...

Have a nice day.

Manu

PaulVDV (54735) 2015-03-10 11:48

Hello Angshu,
This is one of the most beautiful pictures I've ever seen of Pamukkale. You show the Cotton Castle also in an impressive way. I have to admit that I have seen pictures of Pamukkale on which it doesn't look attractive or impressing at all. Seeing this I feel again the desire to visit this site.
Excellently composed. Attractive colours. Good depth.
Best regards, Paul

lousat (129831) 2015-03-10 12:47

Hi Anghsu,a very lucly moment with no more people on the terraces.I been there me too 6 years ago and this is a great memory to me.Magnificent capture,well exposed to take the best white and blue of water and great contrast with the green in background.Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

adores (46979) 2015-03-10 17:04

Hi Angshuman!
Seems you didn't find as many tourists as there usually are nowadays. Beautiful shot, I like the composition, the textures and the contrast of colours. The tonality of the water is magnificent and the presence of the people makes the photo much better!

omid266 (6812) 2015-03-10 22:22

Hello Angshuman,

Another top quality pots in your gallery,

excellent layout of the white panorama,

fine note and Thanks!

Truly Yours, ***

berek (50518) 2015-03-10 23:09

dear Angshuman
very nice photos from my country. especially the white control is very good. congratulations.
Greetings.
Burak Erek

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2015-03-11 3:11

Hello Angshuman,
This is a wonderful composition of this famous part of the world. Wonderful colours too.
best wishes,
Achim

abmdsudi (88423) 2015-03-12 7:41

Namaste Angshu
Fascinating place and the geology beneath, a breathtaking sight i remember vividly when I visited way back in 1998 and tx to your latest infor notes. You balance the compo very well with the contrasting groups of people add so much perspective & depth -being part and parcel of this place. The overall clarity & colors are subtle and standout so superbly against the setting. Well done, Congrats
Best regards

papagolf21 (152599) 2015-03-13 0:31

Bonjour, cher Angshu,
Encore une bien belle image et un site qui mérite les félicitations pour le sujet.
Bravo.
Très bonne journée.
Amitiés.
Philippe

pajaran (102460) 2015-03-13 1:19

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst o Pamukkale sa opisom ...
Dobar trenutak snimka, kontrast i ostrina, lepo pokazano mesto i trenutak sa posetiocima.
Dobar rad, lepa panorama.
Imajte lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje za vikend, srecno.
Paja.

Good afternoon.
Beautiful view of the moment, interesting and good article about Pamukkale with a description ...
Good time recording, contrast and sharpness, nice place and moment shown to visitors.
Good work, beautiful panorama.
Have a nice and successful day, all the best for the weekend, good luck.
Paja.

Fis2 (155425) 2015-03-13 2:10

Witaj Angshu!
Wondetful winter view.
I like POV and colors.
Very impressive picture!
Nice afternoon.
Krzysztof

kordinator (8738) 2015-03-13 2:35

Dear Angshuman
Fantastic scenery you taken by you.
Nice minimalism too.
Lovely colors and composition.
Kind regards
Saša

Matyas (0) 2015-03-13 5:48

Hello Angshuman! Wonderful landscape. Amazing happy people. Fine long perspective. Nice weather, very nice brightness and lightness. Good cut, very good frame. Well done!

Graal (103040) 2015-03-13 13:40

Hi Angshuman,
unusual place in Turkey. Amazing effect and contrast between the peoples and white background. Good presentation. Interesting note also. Well done photo.
Have a nice WE.
Aleksander

Royaldevon (75240) 2015-03-14 2:31

Hello Angshu,

What an amazing freak of Nature!
I have never heard of this before so thank you for drawing our attention to it!
You have given us an expansive view of this strange phenomenon and shown us how it relates to the environment.
The hillside looks to be covered in foam!!

Have a great w/e,
Bev :-)

ChrisJ (159862) 2015-03-14 9:16

Salam Angshuman,

I visited this place twice. In 2013 and again in 2014 for a blue hour shot. Great that authorities are now looking after the unique attraction. Good sharpness and excellent color and saturation. The silhouetted people add scale and context. The diagonal falling away in terrain adds dynamism. Tfs.

Praetzer (209) 2015-03-24 4:37

Unreal colors.
Good compo.
The person in the front leads the eye.
Alfred

macjake (96151) 2015-03-26 1:57

Hi Angshu

well, we made it back to Canada safe and sound from India :)

I wanted to so thank you!
Thanks for the info/idea you gave us to visit Bundi.

Bundi was one of our favorite cities we visited on the entire month long trip, thats how much we enjoyed it there.

I'll be posting shots from India soon, right now i'm focused on Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

as for your shot here....cheers to you for visiting this spot. It's one of our regrets, wish we had taken the time to see it.

looks like a mud slide in a funny way.
and yes, i've heard that drastic measures have been taken to try and save this area. I guess the tourists and tourism industry have destroyed lots of the natural landscape...what a pity.

lovely shot though, lots of color variations and diagonals going on.
cheers
craig

COSTANTINO (103979) 2015-04-26 23:01

Hello dear friend Angshuman
and have a nice new week
this photo is a real postcard from the best place
in thw world Pamukkale a turkish village
in the valley Curuksu great experience
to visit this place indeed splendid
capture with an unique perspective
regards
Costantino

Didi (61587) 2015-05-18 18:00

Salam Angshu
Wonderful and original place and interesting notes
I think that you should show us a panoramic view a little bit more on your left and more on your right

See you on the 25 th
Best regards

Photo Information

Copyright: Angshuman Chatterjee (Angshu) (56760)
Genre: Lugares
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-05-26
Categories: Naturaleza
Camera: Canon 400D (Digital Rebel XTi), Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II VC LD, RAW, Marumi 72mm PL-CIR
Exposición: f/14.0, 1/250 segundos
More Photo Info: view
Versión de la foto: Versión original
Diario de viaje: Turkish Delight
Date Submitted: 2015-03-10 2:14