Environmental protection of geothermal waters and travertines at Pamukkale, Turkey

Tourism, and associated commercial activities have led to physical damage a nd discolouration of the famous white travertine terraces at Pamukkale, a W orld Heritage Site. To mitigate these environmental impacts, scientific stu dies were started in 1993 by UKAM and the Ministry of Culture. These show t hat an aquifer within Paleozoic marbles and Mesozoic limestones, with a cap acity of delivering 510 l/s, feeds the hot springs associated with the terr aces. The discolouration results from algae, whose growth is enhanced by th e use of open channels to convey the water to swimming pools, and by subseq uent discharge of the water onto the terraces. Leakage of effluent from sep tic tanks has encouraged algal growth near the base of the terraces. To pro tect the terraces and enhance travertine deposition, covered concrete chann els have been built to reduce algal growth and a road across the terraces c losed. Recommendations for additional protective measures include reduction in commercial tourist activities, removal of septic tanks and swimming poo ls, prohibition of walking on the terraces, and the creation of special reg ulation and protected zones. (C) 2000 CNR. Published by Elsevier Science Lt d. All rights reserved.