Not near as cold as it looks. (Hemera/Thinkstock)

No, this isn’t the Arctic; it’s Turkey. That white stuff isn’t ice; it’s limestone. Those waters aren’t cold; they’re scorching hot. I know — it’s confusing here at Pamukkale, or the Cotton Castle.

Here’s how things got all weird: For thousands of years, mineral water from hot springs has sprung out of the ground and cascaded down the hillside. The water is full of lime, and the lime turned the rock pearly white. Now the terraced hillside looks like a glacier — a really pretty wedding-cake of a glacier — with pools of bubbling water that reflect the blue skies.

The waters in the area have long been perceived as therapeutic. The first spa dates back to the second century B.C. — the dynasty of the Attalids, the kings of Pergamon. Nowadays, you can still soak in the mineral-rich waters at hotels and spas in the area. The water ranges from around 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), according to NYT. The area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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