Rilska River

General data

Name: Rilska River
Water system: Struma (Strymonas)
Water type: River
Progression: Struma (Strymonas) -> Aegean Sea -> Mediterranean Sea -> Atlantic Ocean -> Planet Earth
Climates: Subtropical
Continents: Europe
Countries: Bulgaria

The Rilska River (Bulgarian: Рилска река, Rilska reka, "Rila River") is a river in south-western Bulgaria. 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 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, 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 a territory of 392 km².

Rilska River

General data

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