Seven Rila Lakes, Sofia

The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of lakes of glacial origin, situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains in Bulgaria. They are the most visited group of lakes in Bulgaria. 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 due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth. The next one in height carries the name Okoto after its almost perfectly oval form. Okoto is the deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria, with a depth of 37.5 m. Babreka is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group. Bliznaka is the largest one by area. Trilistnika has an irregular shape and low shores. The shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero, where the waters that flow out of the other lakes are gathered to form the Dzherman River.The Seven Lakes are a tourist attraction in Bulgaria because of its natural environment. The lakes are located one above the other and are connected by small streams, which form tiny waterfalls and cascades. Tourist accommodation in the lakes' vicinity include a chalet on the northeastern shore of The Fish Lake, at an elevation of 2,196 m. The most common 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.