Kleptuza

Among the most remarkable, romantic and mysterious corners of Velingrad is the Kleptuza lake. Kleptuza with the eponymous park and two lakes is one of the symbols of the city as well. It is located in Chepino, which is one of the three neigbourhoods of Velingrad. They are also karst lakes. Large quantities of water are used for drinking water, the rest of it fills in the two lakes, which flow into the nearby river and then into the Maritsa river, which goes to the Aegean Sea.

The evergreen pine wood south of the Karst The evergreen pine wood south of the Karst springs turn into a natural park, which is springs turn into a natural park, which is visited by the local people and many tourists, visited by the local people and many tourists, especially during the summer. The creation of especially during the summer. The creation of the park was funded by the municipality of the park was funded by the municipality of the former village of Chepino - Banya, the first the former village of Chepino - Banya, the first lake was made in 1933.lake was made in 1933.

The Legend of Kleptuza The Legend of Kleptuza Lake Lake

Kleptuza lake is named after a girl. Her name was Clapp, Kleptuza lake is named after a girl. Her name was Clapp, from the Uzi dynasty. Clapp was beautiful and smart. from the Uzi dynasty. Clapp was beautiful and smart. Perhaps the most beautiful girl in the region. But like any Perhaps the most beautiful girl in the region. But like any other girl, she had her secret - she shared love with a man, other girl, she had her secret - she shared love with a man, who was forbidden for her. So they met in the wood. But who was forbidden for her. So they met in the wood. But one day the girl’s parents decided to engage her. They one day the girl’s parents decided to engage her. They wanted to give her to a guy, from the nearby village, who wanted to give her to a guy, from the nearby village, who had money but no heart. His beauty was cold, his soul - dead had money but no heart. His beauty was cold, his soul - dead and his word - cruel.and his word - cruel.

Clapp decided to Clapp decided to escape with her escape with her beloved, who was beloved, who was ready to take her ready to take her away. To go with him, away. To go with him, she had to go through she had to go through the forest. At the the forest. At the same time, while the same time, while the girl walked through the girl walked through the forest, the Ottomans forest, the Ottomans saw her and they saw her and they noticed the beauty of noticed the beauty of the Bulgarian girl. They the Bulgarian girl. They started to chase her started to chase her but she managed to but she managed to hide. But luck was not hide. But luck was not on her side. on her side.

Shortly before her capture she prayed to the Lord - Shortly before her capture she prayed to the Lord - a - good ground to swallow than fall into the hands a - good ground to swallow than fall into the hands of her pursuers. The Lord heard her request, the of her pursuers. The Lord heard her request, the earth split and Clapp got lost in it. Once out of sight earth split and Clapp got lost in it. Once out of sight of the aggressors, the pit gushed water and of the aggressors, the pit gushed water and drowned her pursuers. Water still flows, the lake is drowned her pursuers. Water still flows, the lake is still beautiful and Clapp like Uza it received its still beautiful and Clapp like Uza it received its name - Kleptuza.name - Kleptuza.

Kleptuza LakeKleptuza LakeThe Winter Fairytale

Underneath the Underneath the boulder, coming with boulder, coming with gurgle from some kind gurgle from some kind of a crypt, the emerald of a crypt, the emerald waters of the karst waters of the karst spring, taken the green spring, taken the green colour from the colour from the overhanging trees.overhanging trees.

This is Kleptuza lake – This is Kleptuza lake – the most romantic the most romantic haven of Velingradhaven of Velingrad, , one one of the biggest and of the biggest and most popular karst most popular karst sources in the country, sources in the country, one of the wonders of one of the wonders of Bulgarian nature.Bulgarian nature.

Really, there’s no one who would not be amazed of “the secret” of the lake. Every second 600 to 1200 liters of cold water spring to the earth’s surface.

The released water The released water from the pressing from the pressing rocks loudly and rocks loudly and happily runs down happily runs down the rocky waterfall, the rocky waterfall, roars down until it roars down until it settles down in the settles down in the first lake. From there first lake. From there – to the second lake – to the second lake and from there to and from there to the Chepinska River the Chepinska River it continue its road it continue its road to Maritsa River. to Maritsa River.