Seven Rila Lakes

The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of tarns, glacial lakes formed in cirques, in the north-western part of the Rila mountains, and the most visited group of lakes in Bulgaria. They lie one above the other, joined by small streams that form tiny waterfalls and cascades, and each carries a name for its most characteristic feature: Salzata, the Tear, is the highest and has such clear water that you can see deep into it; Okoto, the Eye, is almost perfectly oval and is the deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria; Babreka, the Kidney, has the steepest shores; Bliznaka, the Twin, is the largest by area; Trilistnika, the Trefoil, has an irregular shape and low shores; Ribnoto, the Fish Lake, is the shallowest; and Dolnoto, the Lower Lake, is where the waters of the others gather to form the Dzherman River. The best time to visit is July and August, and the lakes usually freeze in October.