7 Rila Lakes

Located in the northwest of the Rila Mountains of the Balkan Peninsula, Lake Rila appears like a blue crystal surrounded by mountains. This is considered one of the most beautiful places in Bulgaria and Europe. Their beauty attracts thousands of Bulgarian and international tourists to visit.

This place is a group of glacial lakes located on Mount Rila, located in 100 national tourist attractions. The lakes are located between 2095m and 2535m above sea level. They are scattered on a large ring along the mountainside and are connected by streams and waterfalls.

Legend has it that thousands of years ago, when there was no modern man on planet Earth, on Mount Rila lived a giant man and woman. They love each other passionately and are at peace together in a lovely house. Their home is sunny, cozy and comfortable, and their love is praised by all creatures and the world. Unfortunately, one day evil forces pass by, jealous of their family's happiness. They were extremely angry and decided to destroy everything and erase their love forever. They began to pull in dark clouds and devastating winds. The giant man fights to protect the mountain with his beloved wife and repel the attacks of evil forces. In a fierce battle, the young giant was slain. The brutal battle left behind shattered rocks, crumbling valleys and a woman wracked with grief. The pain of the young widow was so great that the tears flowed endlessly and ran down the mountainside right into the valley. They flow forever and gather into clear lakes, which are the 7 Rila lakes.

The names of the lakes are given in relation to their distinctive shape and characteristic features. Located at the top is the Lake of Tears (Salzata), because the clear water can see deep to its bottom like angel tears. The lake is located at an altitude of 2,535 meters, just below the top of Otovisi. Next is the Eye Lake (Okoto) which is the deepest of these seven lakes, 37.5 meters deep. The lake is oval shaped like an eye and is blue in good weather. Slightly lower is the Lake of the Kidneys (Babreka), named for its kidney-like crescent shape. The lake has the largest surface area of 85 hectares and has the steepest rocky shore among the lakes. Next is the Twin Lake (Bliznaka). The lake is wide at both ends and narrow in the middle that looks like an hourglass. During dry years, the lake will become two small lakes, and this is the origin of its name. This is the largest of the lakes.

Further down are Trident Lake and Fish Lake (Ribnovo). The lake has an unusual shape resembling a three-leaf clover or clover and has a low shoreline. The shallowest lake is Fish Lake (Ribnoto), which is the shallowest of all lakes. On the northeastern shore of the lake, there is a guesthouse of Seven Lakes. The lowest lake in the group of lakes is Lake Dolnoto Ezero (Lower Lake), which is the headwaters of the Dzherman River.

Every year on August 19, members of the White Brotherhood, followers of Rabbi Danov gather here to celebrate their new year. The celebration takes place near the Lake of Kidneys and consists of rhythmic choral dance ceremonies in a large circle. For the Danovites (followers of Danov), the Rila Mountains are a holy place where thousands of devotees gather every year to greet the dawn.

The best time to visit the lakes is in the summer, between July and October, when it is sunny and there are few storms. There are many ways to get to the lake, such as taking a shuttlebus for 30eu for two ways, taking a bus, or taking a train from Sofia. On average, to visit this area, visitors will take from 5-6 hours.