The Rilska River ( Bulgarian : Рилска река , Rilska reka , "Rila River") is a river in south-western Bulgaria , a left tributary of the Struma . The river is 51 km long and drains the western sections of the Rila mountain range.
19-553: Under the name Manastirska River, it takes its source from the north-eastern corner of the Upper Ribno Lake in the western part of Central Rila at an altitude of 2,225 m in a cirque surrounded by the peaks Yosifitsa (2,697 m) in the east, Kanarata (2,666 m) in the south and Kyoravitsa (2,612 m) in the west. It flows through the Lower Ribno Lake, turns in north-western direction and after forming
38-458: A group of two larger and several smaller non-permanent glacial lakes situated in the central part of the Rila mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria . They are located in a deep cirque widely opened to the north between the summits of Kyoravitsa (2,612 m) to the west, Kanarata (2,667 m) to the south and Yosifitsa (2,697 m) to the northeast. They are located in the eastern reaches of
57-521: A large convex to the north it turns to the south-west. Following the confluence with its largest tributary, the Iliyna River, it flows in western direction under the name Rilska River. It forms deep and densely forested valley until it reaches the town of Rila and enters the plain and wide Dupnitsa Valley. There, the Rilska River turns in south-western direction and after 10 km flows into
76-554: A territory of 392 km² or 2.27% of Struma's total. It borders the basins of the rivers Dzherman (a left tributary of the Struma) to the north and north-west, Iskar to the east and north-east, Mesta to the south-east and Blagoevgradska Bistritsa (a left tributary of the Struma) to the south. The Rilska River has predominantly snow-rain feed with high water in late spring and early summer (May–June) and low water in winter (February). Its left tributaries have more contribution to
95-521: The Rila Monastery . Rilska River The Rilska River ( Bulgarian : Рилска река , Rilska reka , "Rila River") is a river in south-western Bulgaria , a left tributary of the Struma . The river is 51 km long and drains the western sections of the Rila mountain range. Under the name Manastirska River, it takes its source from the north-eastern corner of the Upper Ribno Lake in
114-525: The Rila Monastery Nature Park . The Upper Ribno Lake is situated at an altitude of 2,227 m some 1.5 km north of the summit of Kanarata. It has an oblong shape in direction south–southwest to north–northeast, with a length of 800 m, a width of 300 m and area of 176,000–180,000 m . Its maximum depth is 9 m. The total volume is 771,000 m . The lake is fed by about 30 small streams. A concrete spillway
133-459: The Iliyna River, it flows in western direction under the name Rilska River. It forms deep and densely forested valley until it reaches the town of Rila and enters the plain and wide Dupnitsa Valley. There, the Rilska River turns in south-western direction and after 10 km flows into the Struma at an altitude of 346 m in the outskirts of the town of Kocherinovo . Its drainage basin covers
152-538: The Rila Monastery follows the Rilska River valley. The whole upper course and watershed of the river falls within borders of the Rila Monastery Nature Park . On the river's left banks some 4.8 km downstream of the confluence with the Iliyna is located the Rila Monastery , one of Bulgaria's oldest and most important sanctuaries. The monastery is an important national and international tourist destination and
171-408: The Struma at an altitude of 346 m in the outskirts of the town of Kocherinovo . Its drainage basin covers a territory of 392 km² or 2.27% of Struma's total. It borders the basins of the rivers Dzherman (a left tributary of the Struma) to the north and north-west, Iskar to the east and north-east, Mesta to the south-east and Blagoevgradska Bistritsa (a left tributary of the Struma) to
190-463: The annual flow because they are situated in southern end of the valley on slopes that face in northern direction and accumulate more snow. The average annual flow is 6.26 m /s at the village of Pastra and 3.35 m /s at the confluence with the Struma. The overall annual flow is 241.9 million m , or 11.4% of Struma's total. The river has low levels of mineralisation and is strongly saturated with oxygen. There are five settlements along
209-578: The confluence with the Iliyna is located the Rila Monastery , one of Bulgaria's oldest and most important sanctuaries. The monastery is an important national and international tourist destination and was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Further downstream at the village of Stob, just south of Rilska River's left banks are situated the Stob Earth Pyramids , rock formations, known as hoodoos . Ribni Lakes Ribni Lakes ( Bulgarian : Рибни езера , meaning Fish Lakes ) are
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#1732771725675228-565: The confluence with the Struma. The overall annual flow is 241.9 million m, or 11.4% of Struma's total. The river has low levels of mineralisation and is strongly saturated with oxygen. There are five settlements along the river: Pastra and Rila in Rila Municipality and Stob , Porominovo and Barakovo in Kocherinovo Municipality . The waters of the upper and middle course are used for electricity by
247-415: The hydrocarbonate ions are about 30 mg/L. The water is very soft and highly oxygenated — about 10 mg/L. The chemical composition is favourable for populations of river trout , after which the lakes were named. The lakes serve as a leveler of the small Rila Hydropower Cascade. Between them is constructed the homonymous Ribni Lakes Refuge with 181 beds, which is a starting point for trails to
266-495: The lakes, along with others nearby, such as the Smradlivo Lake , are important for feeding the river during the period of low water ensuring the functioning of ecosystems in the area. They have a significant and constant water outflow of 14.5 million m per year, which represents 6% of the entire discharge of the Rilska River. The chemical composition of the water in the lakes has low mineralization of 58.8 mg/L;
285-466: The river: Pastra and Rila in Rila Municipality and Stob , Porominovo and Barakovo in Kocherinovo Municipality . The waters of the upper and middle course are used for electricity by the smalls hydro power stations of Pastra and Rila; the waters are also used for irrigation in the Dupnitsa Valley. The entire length of 38 km of the third class road III-107 between Kocherinovo and
304-424: The smalls hydro power stations of Pastra and Rila; the waters are also used for irrigation in the Dupnitsa Valley. The entire length of 38 km of the third class road III-107 between Kocherinovo and the Rila Monastery follows the Rilska River valley. The whole upper course and watershed of the river falls within borders of the Rila Monastery Nature Park . On the river's left banks some 4.8 km downstream of
323-433: The south. The Rilska River has predominantly snow-rain feed with high water in late spring and early summer (May–June) and low water in winter (February). Its left tributaries have more contribution to the annual flow because they are situated in southern end of the valley on slopes that face in northern direction and accumulate more snow. The average annual flow is 6.26 m/s at the village of Pastra and 3.35 m/s at
342-416: The western part of Central Rila at an altitude of 2,225 m in a cirque surrounded by the peaks Yosifitsa (2,697 m) in the east, Kanarata (2,666 m) in the south and Kyoravitsa (2,612 m) in the west. It flows through the Lower Ribno Lake, turns in north-western direction and after forming a large convex to the north it turns to the south-west. Following the confluence with its largest tributary,
361-492: Was built in its northeastern shore. The Lower Ribno Lake is at an altitude of 2,200 m some 400 m north of the uppers lake. It is smaller, with an oval shape, a length of 340 m, a width of 230 m, an area of 47,000 m and a depth of 9 m. The total volume is 131,700 m . The lakes form the headwaters of the Rilska River , a left tributary of the Struma . Due to their permanent flow,
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