Swimming in Cleopatra’s Pool at Hierapolis
Ancient Hierapolis was known as a spa center. The presence of hot springs here in the area attracted thousands of people who come here for the healing properties of the water. Nearby Pamukkale is natural result of these underground hot springs but the Romans also made use of the hot spring water for bathing. As I have seen in other formerly Roman cities, they have a love public baths. I guess this is natural since there was no piped-in water at the time so bathing would have to be communal. Hierapolis with its plentiful hot spring water made it the perfect spa center. The ancient Romans built several baths here in Hierapolis but only one remains now – Cleopatra’s Pool.
Extremely Clear Water at Cleopatra’s Pool at Hierapolis
With a name like that it better be interesting. And indeed it is. Legend has it that the Queen Cleopatra herself swam in these very waters and was also the reason why she started bathing in milk. Legend aside, the waters of Cleopatra’s Pool are legendary in clarity. Like a lot of hot spring water, the waters here are rich in minerals supposedly good for your skin. It is probably also because of these minerals that the water is extraordinarily clear. There were a lot of people bathing in the waters. I understand that there is a fee to swim here but looking at the number of people here, I don’t think I would want to swim anyway. Perhaps I would do it if it were early in the morning and I don’t have to go around to sight see. After all, how often can you go swimming at a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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