Ziga Hot Springs

Ziga Spas are located within the boundaries of Aksaray Province in Türkiye’s Central Anatolia Region. The spa area is situated approximately 35 kilometers from the city center of Aksaray, 1.5 to 2 kilometers east of Yaprakhisar Village, which belongs to the Güzelyurt district. The Ziga thermal springs are located southeast of the Ihlara Valley and are accessible by road.

Hot and Mineral Water Sources

Ziga Spas lie along a northwest-southeast trending normal fault line. Measurements conducted along this fault have identified five distinct hot and mineral water sources with varying temperatures and discharge rates. The temperature of the spring waters ranges between 45°C and 52°C, with discharge rates measured up to 150 liters per second. A borehole drilled in 1999 yielded hot water with artesian flow.

Gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO₂), are also observed at the sources. The total dissolved solids content of the water is approximately 3450 mg/l. The mineral composition of the water can be used as a complementary and supportive treatment for various health conditions, including rheumatic disorders, metabolic disturbances, eye diseases, and gynecological ailments.

Yaprakhisar Source

The Yaprakhisar hot and mineral water source, locally known as “Eski Ziga,” is located within the boundaries of Yaprakhisar Village. This spring emerges through travertine formations and has a temperature of 36°C and a discharge rate of approximately 1 liter per second. The total dissolved solids content of the water has been measured at 3450 mg/l. Reddish and brownish precipitates accumulate around the source, a phenomenon associated with the mineral composition of the water. As in other hot and mineral water sources in the region, gas emissions are common.

Geological Features

Ziga Spas are situated within the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province. Neogene volcanic rocks are widespread in the area. These rocks, associated particularly with the Melendiz Mountains, consist of andesite, dacite, and tuff units. The Ziga Thermal Area has developed along fault systems shaped by recent tectonic activity. Permeable volcanic units and fracture systems facilitate the circulation of groundwater, enabling thermal water to reach the surface.

Geomorphological Features

The area where Ziga Spas are located features a rolling topography near the eastern edge of the Ihlara Valley, characterized by abundant tuff and volcanic deposits. Over time, calcium carbonate precipitations from the thermal waters have formed travertine deposits. These travertines have gradually accumulated at points where hot mineral water emerges, creating travertine formations with varying colors and shapes.

Travertines impart yellow, red, and brownish surface textures to the region. In areas of ongoing geothermal activity, surface features such as bulges, microfractures, and hydrothermal alteration traces are observed. These morphological structures reflect the influence of active tectonic processes on the geomorphological evolution of the area.

Hydrogeochemical Properties

The thermal waters emerging from Ziga Spas are rich in minerals and chemically enriched in sodium (Na⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), and sulfate (SO₄²⁻) ions. The temperature of the thermal water ranges between 45°C and 52°C, with a total dissolved solids content of approximately 3450 mg/l.

Chemically, the water is classified as a mineral hot spring. The high mineralization level indicates prolonged contact between the water and deep-seated magmatic or metamorphic rocks. Gas emissions along the Ziga springs are dominated by carbon dioxide (CO₂). The presence of these gases indicates that components carried by the thermal water from depth trigger surface processes such as precipitation and pH changes.

The physicochemical properties of the water qualify it for both bathing and drinking cures, as confirmed by laboratory analyses. In terms of mineral content and temperature range, Ziga Spas are classified as medium-enthalpy geothermal sources.