Seven Rila Lakes
Encyclopedia
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s of glacial
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
origin (glacial lake
Glacial lake
A glacial lake is a lake with origins in a melted glacier. Near the end of the last glacial period, roughly 10,000 years ago, glaciers began to retreat. A retreating glacier often left behind large deposits of ice in hollows between drumlins or hills. As the ice age ended, these melted to create...
s), situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. They are the most visited group of lakes in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. The lakes are situated between 2,100 and 2,500 metres elevation above sea level.
Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature. The highest one is called Salzata ("The Tear") due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth. The next one in height carries the name Okoto ("The Eye") after its almost perfectly oval form. Okoto is the deepest cirque
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
lake in Bulgaria, with a depth of 37.5 m. Babreka ("The Kidney") is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group. Bliznaka ("The Twin") is the largest one by area. Trilistnika ("The Trefoil") has an irregular shape and low shores. The shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero ("The Fish Lake") and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero ("The Lower Lake"), where the waters that flow out of the other lakes are gathered to form the Dzherman River.
The Seven Lakes chalet
Chalet
A chalet , also called Swiss chalet, is a type of building or house, native to the Alpine region, made of wood, with a heavy, gently sloping roof with wide, well-supported eaves set at right angles to the front of the house.-Definition and origin:...
are a main tourist attraction in Bulgaria because of the inspiring natural beauty of the place. The lakes are located one above the other and are connected by small streams, which form tiny waterfalls and cascades. You can find tourist accommodation in the lakes' vicinity. It lies on the northeastern shore of The Fish Lake, at an elevation of 2,196 m. The most appropriate time to visit the lakes is summer, in July and August, when temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius and the risk of sudden storms is lower. During the rest of the year the weather is unfriendly to tourists. Sometime in October the lakes freeze and don't melt before June. The ice cover can reach up to 2 meters.
List
| English name | Bulgarian name | Altitude | Area | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Tear | Сълзата (Salzata) | 2535 m (8,316.9 ft) | 0.7 ha (1.7 acre) | 4.5 m (14.8 ft) | Named after its clear waters |
| The Eye | Окото (Okoto) | 2440 m (8,005.2 ft) | 6.8 ha (16.8 acre) | 37.5 m (123 ft) | Named after its oval shape. Deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria |
| The Kidney | Бъбрека (Babreka) | 2282 m (7,486.9 ft) | 8.5 ha (21 acre) | 28 m (91.9 ft) | Steepest shores of all |
| The Twin | Близнака (Bliznaka) | 2243 m (7,358.9 ft) | 9.1 ha (22.5 acre) | 27.5 m (90.2 ft) | Largest by area |
| The Trefoil | Трилистника (Trilistnika) | 2216 m (7,270.3 ft) | 2.6 ha (6.4 acre) | 6.5 m (21.3 ft) | Irregular shape and low shores |
| Fish Lake | Рибното езеро (Ribnoto ezero) | align="center"| 2184 metres (7,165.4 ft) | 3.5 ha (8.6 acre) | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) | Shallowest |
| The Lower Lake | Долното езеро (Dolnoto ezero) | 2095 m (6,873.4 ft) | 5.9 ha (14.6 acre) | 11 m (36.1 ft) | Lowest |