Elena Lakes

The group of Elena lakes is located in the northwestern Rila, in the region of Malyovitsa peak. Lakes are 9, but 3 of them are most famous. The biggest is Elenino ezero /Elena’s lake/, which is situated in the eastern foothills of the Big Malyovitsa Peak. It is situated at an altitude of 2,472 m /8110.21 ft/. The lake has shape of the kidney and cirque threshold. Part of his water drains groundwater to Elena small lake, and give early flow of the river Malyovitsa.
The lake is 220 m /722 ft/ long, wide up to 62 m /203 ft/ and deep to 5 m /16 ft/.
The legend of Elena’s lake takes us back in time to the Ottoman rule in the Bulgarian Lands /XIV-XIX century/. In Samokov town had lived the beautiful maiden Helena. When she was 17, Pasha Selim came in the region with numerous army to crush the rebel in the region. Elena was given to him. The next day she got out of captivity and escaped high in the mountain where was the band of Malyo Voevoda. She fall in love with the standard-bearer, although she had no such right after the night spent with Pasha. She saw that he loves her, too.

After the head’s death, Elena decided to take his place, only in that case the standard-bearer would not dare to seek her love. On the day, when the new head was elected each of the band members had come to shoot in a ringlet, attached to boron. The bullet of the standard-bearer was the most accurate. Elena had stood after him. Her face was burning. If she would not be better, the the standard-bearer will be the new head. And this should not be allowed. . . She took at the aim and shoot. Shoot not in the ringlet, but right in the heart of the Pasha Selim. When she opened her eyes, the ringlet was gone. Excited, the band members started to greet her. Elena achieved her objective. She adopted the leadership and from her shoulders drop a huge burden.
In a battle Elena was hurt. When she recovered, she saw above overhung the standard-bearer. Elena aware that she will die soon, before that, however, she suggested him to replace her.
She decided to admit as her love, as for the night with Pasha. But she failed to end, the death came and closed her eyes, where today splashes the lake, bringing her name ...