The Lower Lake, Glacial lake in Rila Mountains, Bulgaria

The Lower Lake is the lowest of the Seven Rila Lakes, lying at 2,095 m in the cirque of the same name. It measures 330 m long and up to 260 m wide, covers 59 decares and holds 240,000 m³, with a maximum depth of 11 m. Its south and east banks are steep, while the west and north are overgrown with dwarf pine and juniper.

The lake formed during the last ice age when glaciers carved out this alpine basin and shaped the surrounding rock. It belongs to a connected chain of water bodies all created through the same glacial process.

The lake marks the lowest step of the Seven Rila Lakes cirque, and the trail from Vada hut to the Seven Lakes hut runs along its western shore. Its outflow gives rise to the Dzherman River, which drains the waters collected from the six lakes above.

The path from Vada hut to the Seven Rila Lakes hut runs along the western shore of the Lower Lake. The southern and eastern banks rise steeply, while the western and northern sides are covered with dwarf pine and juniper. The lake lies at 2,095 m, so weather can change quickly; the outflow from its shore begins the Dzherman River.

The water freezes solid from October through June, creating a clear seasonal rhythm that shapes when people can visit. Only during the brief warm months does the surface remain liquid enough for swimmers and extended stays.