6 Beautiful Terraced Pools To Explore Around The World

Naturally terraced pools are a shallow, rimmed water bodies usually located on the travertine terraces - a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine terraces often have a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. Because of this and because of the biochemical composition of the water, these pools usually have wonderful shades of different colors.

# 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.

# 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.

# 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.

# 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.

# 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.

# 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.