The chief features of the site are its 20m high travertine cliffs and waterfalls. The travertine terraces lie along the foothills of the Cokelez mountains, the highest being about 200m above the Curuksu plain and extending some 6km between the villages of Pamukkale and Karahayit. The famous thermal springs and travertine pools are located on the site of the Roman town of Hierapolis, at the south-eastern tip of the terraces and occupy an area 2,500m in length and 500m in width. Semi-circular pools occur in a step-like arrangement down the upper one-third of the slope; the steps range from 1-6m. Fresh deposits of calcium carbonate give the pools a dazzling white coating. The travertine deposits, Quaternary in age, are thought to originate from a fault in the contact zone between the Mesozoic crystalline rocks and the layers of the Neogen series.

The water temperature averages 36°C with a flow of 25 litres per second (from four springs). The springs form part of a complex hydraulic system extending 70km to the north-west to Alasehir and west along the valley of the Menderes River. These canals take thermal water to nearby villages and agricultural areas, some over the years having accumulated travertine deposits up to 10m in height. The oldest rocks in the area are crystalline marbles, quartzites and schists and are located in the northern parts of the proposed park. Most of the rocks are, however, of the Pliocene period.

Geography

Turkey’s territory covers 814,578 square kilometers, 97% of which is on the Asian continent, and 3% on the European continent. Turkey is located between 26° and 45° E longitude and 42° and 36° N latitude. It no longer includes the Balkan and Arabic lands it possessed in the days of the Ottoman Empire, but takes in eastern Thrace (the European part of Turkey) and Anatolia (Asia Minor). Surrounded by four seas, it has 8,372 kilometers of coastline and 2,753 kilometers of land borders that it shares with Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

General information

Government
Democratic secular social state

Capital
Ankara

Largest city
Istanbul

Religion
99% Muslim

Geographical regions

•   Black Sea Region
•   Marmara Region
•   Aegean Region
•   Mediterranean Region
•   Central Anatolia Region
•   Eastern Anatolia Region
•   Southeastern Anatolia Region

Currency
Turkish lira

Language spoken
Turkish

Major industries and products
World's largest producer of hard-shell nuts, figs and apricots; fourth for fresh vegetables, grapes and tobacco; seventh for wheat and cotton. Significant textile, leather and technological industries.

Tourism Information

Time zone: GM +2

Airports
Istanbul, Ankara, Bodrum, Antalya, Izmir, Dalaman

Climate
The high season extends from April to November in southern Turkey with temperatures ranging from 30° to 40° C in July and August. April, May and October are the most comfortable months and there are fewer tourists, making these ideal months to visit. Winter is sunny with considerably lower temperatures.

Clothing
In the summer, bring a hat and sunglasses as protection against the sun. Pack comfortable walking shoes for exploring historic or archeological sites. Summer clothing is usually appropriate, but bring along something warmer for cool evenings, particularly at higher altitudes. A headscarf is recommended for women who wish to enter mosques.

Train connections
Trains connect the major cities.

Slow trains: Istanbul-Ankara: 8 hours. Istanbul-Izmir: 11 hours. Ankara-Izmir: 14 1/2 hours.

Entry documents
All travelers must have a valid passport as well as a visa. Check with a Turkish Consulate for specific requirements when planning your trip.

National Holidays

•   National Sovereignty and Children's Day (April 23)
•   Commemoration of Atatürk and Youth and Sports Day (May 19)
•   Victory Day (August 30)
•   Republic Day (October 29)
•   Muslim Holidays
•   Seker Bayrami ( the Festival of Fast-Breaking) - three day festival
•   Kurban Bayrami (the Festival of Sacrifice) - four day festival