The Stinky Lake in Rila

They say that this is the biggest of all the mountain lakes in Rila, Rodophi and Pirin mountains. In fact, this is the biggest high mountain circus lake on the Balkan Peninsula by area (240 decares). It has a heart shape and has the depth of 3-4 heights of a man. It is really beautiful and picturesque, wrapped to the high rocky wall Smradlivia Chal (the Stinky peak) and has dark green waters. There are lots of legends about the Stinky Lake, related to the pursuit and life of St. Ivan Rilski. The name of the lake comes from the legend that during an extreme storm, the lake ruffled and enormous waves threw out all the fish on the shores. When the fish died, it filled with stink everything nearby so immensely that the stink could not disappear for three years. Since then there is no fish in the lake and all the attempts to breed it remain unsuccessful. But dozens of rivers and brooks spring from there. Another legend says that once upon a time St. Ivan Rilski lived at the lake as a hermit. One day fellows of him decided to check his miraculous talent. They killed his cow and filled their bags with meat and told him they had killed a bear. On their way home they sensed how the meat started to stink. Furious they threw the bags into the lake. It ran high and threw lots of dead fish on the shores. Thus came its name – the Stinky Lake. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VFXoNxBejzqyjUFDA