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Cleopatra Pool. Photo by shankar s.

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Cleopatra Pools

Cleopatra Pools are located in the Büyük Menderes also known as the classical Meander valley adjacent to the modern cities of Pamukkale and Denizli in Turkey.

The pools are located in Turkey’s inner Aegean region which most of the year experiences temperate climate.

The Cleopatra Pools are the most famous in Turkey and are constantly filled with underground running mineral water.

The natural formations inside the archeological site are referred to as the “Cotton Castle”. The classical pools are located in River Menderes valley.

The top 10 amazing facts about Cleopatra Pools include the following.

1. The Cleopatra Pools Are Constantly Filled with Underground  Water

Cleopatra Pools. Photo by shankar s.

One of the most famous mineral springs in Turkey are the Cleopatra Pools located adjacent to Pamukkale. These natural bath pools look large in size and running mineral water from underground constantly fills them continuously.

The running mineral water which contains a lot of lime flows down the slopes creating amazingly beautiful travertines of exquisite water color which attracts visitors.  The accumulated lime dries up on the slopes after accumulating.

2. Legend Has It That Cleopatra Bathed in The Pools

Cleopatra. Photo by William Wetmore Story.

Restoration of the pools began in the 1960s and they became known as the Roman Pools. The legend that Cleopatra the famous Egyptian queen of the first century bathed there appeared in the 1990s.  

The name Cleopatra’s pool consequently arose in the 1990’s when the legend surfaced.

Another extension of the legend indicates that the Cleopatra Pool was created for Cleopatra by Mark Antonius otherwise known as Mark Antony who was her alleged lover.

3. Cleopatra Pools Are Known to Have Healing properties

Apollo Temple Ruins. Photo by Saffron Blaze.

The healing properties of the pools was known as far back as when the ancient Greek Kingdom of Pergamon existed in Asia Minor in 3^rd Century B.C. Resort buildings started appearing around the pools in 2^nd Century B.C.

Citizens of ancient Rome come to the pools for treatments and to rest. They also took the mineral waters for treatment of serious illnesses which befell them. An antique portico surrounded the Cleopatra pools during those days.

It is alleged that a Roman Temple to Apollo with an ornate roof held up by Doric columns surmounted the pools and stands as ruins today.

4. Columns of The Ancient Portico or The Doric Columns Lie at The Bottom of The Pools

Pamukkale. Photo by Serhio Magpie.

During the 7^th century AD history has it that a terrible earthquake occurred in the area of Pamukkale. The city of Hierapolis which was constructed in the present hot springs’ location was destroyed during the earthquake.

The resort or temple that stood at the site of the Cleopatra pools was also destroyed as well.  It is believed that the columns of the ancient portico or Doric columns broke during the earthquake and collapsed to the bottom of the pools where they still lie to this day.

5.  The Pools Areas Are Kept Tidy and Other Facilities to Enhance the Experience Are in Plenty

The pools areas are kept tidy and as such visitors can take photos and videos to remember the place.

There are several cafes and souvenir shops for visitors to relax in and taste local dishes. Visitors can choose a souvenir for themselves and their friends as they wander around the shops.

Visitors can swim to the bottom of the pools and came across the columns which sunk to the bottom during the earthquake.

6. The  Pools  Are Divided Into Three Sectors

The Cleopatra Pools are continuously filled with underground sources of water. 

The pools are divided into three sectors namely, the entrance to the pools, the bathing area and the deep end of the pools where at the bottom the pillars are found.

A powerful fountain of mineral water comes out of the ground with mineral bubbles coming out of the water at a depth of three meters.

The mineral water seems to boil as it comes out of the ground to fill the pools with water.

7. The Pools Can Accommodate Up to 250 people At the Same Time

The Cleopatra Pools have sufficient facilities to enable people enjoy their visit. There are lockers. showers, toilets and changing cabins within the pool areas. There is a medical center within the area to cater for any medical emergencies which may arise.

Visitors are advised to carry their own drinking water as water is expensive within the pool areas. Visitors are also advised to carry their own towels as these things are expensive at the pools area. There are water pipes laid from outside the pools for visitors to get a hydromassage.

Visitors can also collect mineral water in bottles from a water pump which is fitted in the pool areas.  The pools are a so large that they can accommodate 250 people at the same time

8. Visitors to Cleopatra Pools Get to Tour the Ancient Ruins of Hierapolis

The ancient city of Hierapolis was located on hot springs in classical Phrygia on the hot the springs South Western Anatolia or Asia Minor. The remains of the ancient city are located adjacent to the modern-day city of Pamukkale.

It appears many of the patrons of the pools lived and died there as evidenced by a large necropolis filled with tombs which is located at the pools. Some of the famous people buried in the tombs include Philip the Apostle and Marcus Aurelius Ammianos

9. Visitors Can Enjoy The 17 Hot Springs Making Up Pamukkale’s Travertine Terraces

 Visitors to Cleopatra pools can visit 17 hot springs which together make up the travertine terraces of Pamukkale. Frequent earthquakes occur in Pamukkale as it sits over a fault line. Thermal waters reach the surface to create the hot springs through cracks in the earth created by the earthquakes.

As water trickles over the cliffs below, the hot springs deposit calcium which overtimes dries and petrifies. These terraces make the place photogenic and pleasant to visit.

10. Visitors to Cleopatra Pools Can Tour the Cotton Castle

The underground water that fills the Cleopatra pools is replete with lime which is calcium rich. As the water trickles over the cliffs below it deposits the lime full of calcium over the terraces.

The calcium petrifies when the water dries up leaving the perfectly white colored Cotton Castle.  Since this process has been going on for millions of years, visitors to the Cleopatra pools can marvel at the amazing travertine pools in the place.