Lepenitsa Cave

The Western Rhodopes' Lepenitsa Cave is located below Syutkya Peak (2186 m), 10 kilometers southwest of Rakitovo and 11 kilometers south of Velingrad. It is 1525 meters long, 975 meters above sea level, and has a vertical drop of 10 meters. The cave is accessible from both Rakitovo and Velingrad.

Lepenitsa Cave is divided into three floors. A 273-meter-long underground river runs through the lowest level. When it rains, four lakes appear on the second level, but there are only two in dry times. The third level is completely dry, although it is inaccessible. The cave is breathtakingly gorgeous, with an abundance of stalagmites, stalactites, and columns. It was discovered with amazing cave pearls. They are now on display in Sofia's Museum of Natural History.

The cave wildlife is diverse and fascinating. So far, 24 animal species have been identified as inhabiting the cave, with six of them being troglobites (living only in caves). Lepenitsa Cave is home to six different varieties of bats. The cave has a temperature of roughly 10° C.

The cave is again a tourist attraction after being closed to tourists for more than 50 years. In 1960, it was designated as a tourist attraction. Tourists can only enter the cave in groups of no more than ten individuals, guided by a guide and wearing protective equipment. Inside the cave, guests are only permitted to travel along pre-determined paths. The cave forbids smoking, drinking, and the use of opioids. It is also forbidden to touch or break cave structures.

Region: Rakitovo, Bulgaria