What is the legend of Lake Ritsa and why is it so beautiful?

Lake Ritsa has a beautiful and tragic legend. Abkhazians consider it sacred. According to the legend, a beautiful girl named Ritsa lived in the gorge with her three hunter brothers. One day, when the brothers went to the mountains, evil bandits kidnapped Ritsa. The brothers rushed to save their sister, but it was too late. In despair, one of them threw his shield, blocking the river, but the water rushed into the gorge, engulfing both the bandits and the girl. The brothers turned to stone from grief, becoming mountain peaks that still tower over the lake.

In fact, the lake was formed as a result of a powerful earthquake, when rocks collapsed into the bed of the Lashipse River, creating a natural dam over 100 meters high. Water filled the valley, and so at an altitude of 950 meters this amazing lake appeared. By the way, the color of the water in Ritsa changes depending on the season: in spring and summer it is emerald yellow, and in autumn and winter it becomes a cold blue-blue hue.

Find more interesting facts in the article Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia: a complete guide for independent travelers

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