1. Semuc
Champey Pools, Guatemala
Semuc
Champey is a beautiful series of small ponds and pools on a natural land
bridge that crosses the Cahabon River. It is located in the Municipality of
Lanquin, Alta Verapaz.
The Cahabon River
submerges itself at the entrance of Semuc Champey and resurfaces about 400
meters (1,300 ft) later after it passes this natural limestone bridge suspended
with beautiful crystal clear ponds. In this unique natural formation you have
water with shades of light green emerald to dark blue sapphire.
Although it can be difficult to get to,
Semuc is becoming more and more popular with travelers. [link, map]
2. Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale, meaning
"cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in
southwestern Turkey. The site contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of
carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner
Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for
most of the year.
The ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine
city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white "castle" which is
in total about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m
(525 ft) high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley
in the town of Denizli, 20 km away.
Tourism is and has been a major
industry. People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years. As recently as
the mid-20th century, hotels were built over the ruins of Hieropolis, causing
considerable damage. An approach road was built from the valley over the
terraces, and motor bikes were allowed to go up and down the slopes.
When the area was declared a
World Heritage Site (1988), the hotels were demolished and the
road removed and replaced with artificial pools. Wearing shoes in the water is
prohibited to protect the deposits. [link, map]
3. Huanglong Pools, China
Huanglong is a scenic and
historic interest area in the northwest part of Sichuan, China. It is located in
the southern part of the Minshan mountain range, 150 kilometres (93 mi)
north-northwest of the capital Chengdu.
This area is known for its colorful
pools formed by calcite deposits, especially in Huanglonggou
(Yellow Dragon Gully), as well as diverse forest ecosystems, snow-capped peaks,
waterfalls and hot springs.
Accumulated travertine landscapes and
fascinating pools are Huanglong's main attraction. The total length of the
travertine is 3,6 km (2.2 mi) and it is thought to look like a huge golden
dragon wheeling through the snow-capped mountains of the valley. The main
landscapes are travertine banks, amazingly colorful ponds and travertine
waterfalls and caves.
The main body of water starts from the
top of the valley and ends at Xishen Cave Waterfall in the north with a length
of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) and a width of 30 – 170 m (100 - 550 ft). The colours of
Huanglong’s waters consist of yellows, greens, blues and browns. [link,
map]
4. Kuang Si Falls, Laos
The Kuang Si Falls,
sometimes spelled Kuang Xi or known as Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls, is a three tier
waterfall about 29 kilometres (18 mi) south of Luang Prabang in Laos. These
waterfalls are a favourite side trip for tourists in Luang Prabang.
The falls begin in shallow pools atop a
steep hillside. These lead to the main fall with a 60 metres (200 ft) cascade.
The falls are accessed via a trail to a left of the falls. The water collects in
numerous turquoise blue pools as it flows downstream. The many
cascades that result are typical of travertine waterfalls.
The locals charge a nominal admission
fee to visit the site, but it is well main maintained with walkways and bridges
to guide the visitor. Most of the pools are open to swimming. [link, map]
....5. Baishuitai Pools, China
White Water Terrace (Bai
Shui Tai) is located in the foothills of the Haba Snow Mountains, 101 km (62
miles) southeast of Shangri-La.
The variegated landform of the
tableland is a continual deposition of calcium carbonate that is contained in
the spring water. Every year, the surface of the land is covered by the
deposition and finally transformed into the terraced structure with pools you
see today.
The Baishuitai covers an area of three
square kilometers (about 741 acres). The spring water runs down along the slope
of the mountain, leaving an impression of a large white jade carving among the
green mountain. Besides being a beautifully scenic spot, the Baishuitai is also
the birthplace of Dongba culture of the Naxi Minority Group. [link, map]
6. Mammoth Hot Springs, USA
Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex
of hot springs and pools on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National
Park. It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the
spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate (over two tons flow into Mammoth
each day in a solution).
Algae living in the warm pools have
tinted the travertine shades of brown, orange, red, and green.
Terrace Mountain at
Mammoth Hot Springs is the largest known carbonate-depositing spring in the
world. The most famous feature at the springs is the Minerva Terrace, a series
of travertine terraces. [link, map]
7. Badab-e Surt, Iran
Badab-e Surt is a natural
site in Mazandaran Province in northern Iran, 95 kilometers (59 mi) South of
city of Sari, and 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) west of Orost village. It comprises a
range of stepped travertine terrace formations that has been created over
thousands of years as flowing water from two mineral hot springs cooled and
deposited carbonate minerals on the mountain side.
As a result, over the course of
thousands of years the water from these two springs emanating from the mountain
range have combined and resulted in a number of orange, red and yellow colored
pools shaped as a naturally formed staircase.
Badab-e Surt's springs are two distinct
mineral springs with different natural characteristics, located at 1840 meters
(6,000 ft) of altitude. The first spring contains very salty water that gathers
in a small natural pool; its water is considered to have medical effects,
especially as a cure for rheumatism and some types of skin diseases and skin
conditions. The second spring has a sour taste and is predominately orange
mainly due to the large iron oxide sediments at its outlet. [link, map]
8. Egerszalók, Hungary
Egerszalók is an open-air
spa located in Heves County in northeastern Hungary. The springs yield 68°C
(154°F). mineral water from an aquifer
located under the volcanic Mátra Mountains.
Before entering the spa pools, the
steaming water runs down a series of cascades backed and lined with travertine;
the gleaming mineral has precipitated from the water as it interacts with air at
atmospheric temperatures.
The travertine is locally called
"salt," and the cascade of water is called "Salt
Hill." The
Egerszalók pools contain water rich in calcium, magnesium, and hydrocarbonate
minerals. [link, map]
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
2. Pamukkale, Turkey
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
.jpg) |
| link |
 |
| link |
3. Huanglong Pools, China
 |
| link |
.jpg) |
| link |
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
4. Kuang Si Falls, Laos
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
....5. Baishuitai Pools, China
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
6. Mammoth Hot Springs, USA
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
 |
| Dead trees in an area of intense deposition of calcium carbonate link |
7. Badab-e Surt, Iran
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
8. Egerszalók, Hungary
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
 |
| link |
