The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes located in northwestern Rila. They are arranged in a stepped pattern between 2,095 and 2,535 meters above sea level and occupy depressions on the mountain slope, with the individual lakes connected by small streams. When water flows through these streams, small springs and waterfalls are formed.
The name of each of the Seven Rila Lakes reflects a feature of the respective lake. The lake located at the highest altitude is named “The Tear” because of the transparency of its waters. The next highest is “The Eye” (also called “The Heart”), which is approximately oval in shape. The Eye is the deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria, with a depth of 37.5 meters. “The Kidney” is the lake with the steepest banks in the entire group. The fourth lake is “Bliznaka”; it is the largest of the seven by area. Lake “Trilistnika” is irregular in shape and has low shores. The shallowest is “Ribnoto Lake,” which is pictured.
The shot was taken in mid-December when the lake is already frozen and covered with ice until next spring. The iconic Haramiyata Peak, called “The Guardian of the 7 Lakes,” reaches 2,465 meters and is located on the shores of the 6th lake. Its northern slopes are the steepest, but it allows climbing without special equipment from the eastern end. The view from the top is impressive and provides a view over five of the seven lakes in the cirque.
