Popovo Lake

Popovo Lake is the largest and deepest lake in the Pirin Mountains – a glacial basin in the northern part of the range, located in the heart of Pirin National Park at about 2,234 m above sea level. It lies at the bottom of the Popovski cirque, encircled by the striking peaks of Dzhengal, Momini Dvori, Kralev Dvor, Sivria and Dzhano, whose silhouettes are mirrored in its dark-blue waters.

The lake has an irregular pentagonal outline with a tiny islet; with a length of around 480 m, width of 336 m and depth of 29.5 m it ranks among Bulgaria’s most impressive high-mountain lakes. Fed by rain, melting snow and a few small streams, Popovo Lake drains into the Retizhe River, a right tributary of the Mesta. Alpine meadows and old dwarf pine stands fringe its shores, while the legends about a priest whose cap formed the islet add a touch of mystery, making Popovo Lake a favourite destination for hikers and photographers.