The Seven Rila Lakes - Bulgaria

The Seven Rila Lakes is a group of lakes with glacial origin located in the Rila Mountains . This is the most visited tourist group in Bulgaria and is one of the 100 national tourist sites . The lakes are located in the Lagoon part of the Northwest Rila and are situated in a stepwise fashion between 2095 and 2535 m above sea level. They occupy dents on the mountainside and the lakes are connected by small streams. When crossing the water, small waterfalls and waterfalls were formed along these streams . The first three lakes - the Tear , the Eye and the Kidney - each of them is drained separately in the Glyssa, from which the water passes through the Triplets, the Fish and the Lower Lake. In the last two lakes, there is an already more powerful stream, which flows from the lowest lake to the beginning of the Djurman River (the left tributary of Struma ).

The name of each of the seven Rila lakes reflects a peculiarity of the lake. The lake, which is located at the highest altitude, bears the name " Tear" because of the transparency of the waters. Next in height is the Eye (also called the Heart), which is approximately oval in shape. The eye is the deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria - its depth is 37.5 m. The kidney is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group. The fourth lake is Bliznaka ; it is the largest area of ​​the seven. Lake Trilistnika has an irregular shape and low shores. The shallowest lake is shallow ; on its northeastern coast is the hut "Seven Lakes ". Lowest is the Lower Lake , from which the Djerman River originates .

The legend of the seven Rila lakes tells that thousands of years ago, when there were no people yet, two giants - a man and a woman - lived in Rila Mountain. They loved crazy and adored the beauty and coziness of their home.

Their home was so attractive, sunny, warm and cozy that they could not but enchant any living creature, and their love enjoyed all the elements and the whole world.

Unfortunately, one day evil forces passed past their home. Having seen this beautiful place, envied the family happiness of the giants, they were angry and decided to destroy everything and erase their love forever. They began to send black clouds and devastating winds. Terrible earthquakes shook the ground.

The giant defended violently every blade of grass, every little stream or flower, defended his beloved and defeated the attacks of evil forces. But this only sparked their enormous malice and cruelty, and they decided to do their hard work to the end.

In a difficult battle the young giant fell killed. Satisfied with their victory, the evil forces left, leaving behind broken rocks, devastated valleys, and a troubled woman. The young widow's grief was so great that her tears flowed unceasingly and flowed along the ridges straight into the valleys. They wandered and gathered in the marshes as they formed clear lakes with amazing purity.

Before the Lake of the Kidney, the mountain guides show a huge rock, facing the Lake Salza. The shape of the rock resembles the figures of a man and woman of enormous size. According to the legend, these are the two lovers who will remain to keep their beautiful home forever. [1]