Pamukkale's dark secret: Unveiling the 'gate of hell' behind its breathtaking beauty

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): There are places in the world that are not only beautiful but also full of mysteries. One such place is Pamukkale, located in western Turkey, and considered one of the world's most unique and beautiful natural sites. Its gleaming white travertine stairs and thermal pools, or hot water ponds, attract a large number of tourists every year.

Remarkably, from a distance, this place resembles a heap of cotton. This is why it's also known as the "Cotton Palace." Pamukkale's white steps and pools are formed by hot water released by volcanic activity. Rainwater seeps down through cracks in the ground, where it is heated by magma and dissolves minerals from limestone rocks. Upon reaching the surface, these minerals solidify and form travertine rocks.

Hot springs, caused by volcanic activity, caused carbon dioxide to accumulate in a cave that was believed in ancient times to be the gateway to Pluto (the god of death). Animals and humans who entered this cave often died instantly. This is why the place is also known as the "Gate of Hell."

The water temperature here ranges from 19 to 57 degrees Celsius. The ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis was located directly above these thermal pools. Built in the 2nd century BC, this city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Nearby is Cleopatra Pool, where people can swim among the broken pillars. An earthquake in the 7th century caused significant damage to the city.

The Aster sensor on NASA's Terra satellite captured these images on May 25, 2021, and October 9, 2021. Aster helps study Earth's surface temperature, glaciers, volcanoes, and environmental changes.

Travertine deposits in the Pamukkale region have been forming for at least 600,000 years, dating back to the Pleistocene. However, most of the white rocks at this site have formed within the last 50,000 years. Researchers believe that the current arrangement of hot springs and travertine pools we see today was formed after the Laodicea earthquake in the seventh century. This earthquake altered the geological structure of the area, causing hot springs to flow through new channels and accelerating travertine formation.

The temperature of the region has also varied over time. Hotter springs produce calcite travertine, while lower temperatures produce more porous tufa deposits. Geochemical analyses by scientists show that the water temperature has gradually decreased since the Pleistocene.