Velingrad is a beautiful town in southern Bulgaria, which is often called the “Spa capital of the Balkans”. It has many mineral springs that are healing. Many people come for a spa holiday in Velingrad. All kinds of procedures, massages and healing water treatments are offered here. And around there is unique nature and beautiful areas. Velingrad is home to the largest karst lake in the country – Kleptuza. It is on the right bank of the Chepinska river on the way to the Dospat dam. The lake and the area around it were declared a protected area by order in 1966 and are under the protection of the state. Today, Kleptusa has become the biggest symbol of Velingrad. Part of the mineral water is used for water supply of the city and for economic needs. Another part is used for artificial lakes, which are visited by Velingrad residents during holidays and weekends. There are many water bikes in the Kleptusa Lake, which are a big attraction for young and old. A meridian and a parallel intersect very close in the area of Markovi skali. This is the only crossing point in Bulgaria. Many hiking trails start from the lake to the neighboring areas of Hermanite, Brezi and others. It has beautiful nature, many mountaineers come here for trekking. There is a beautiful legend associated with the lake. It is named after a spring, and the spring is named after a girl. Her name was Klepta and she was of the family of the Uzites. Klepta was famous as the most beautiful in the whole neighborhood and was in love with a boy. They met without anyone knowing, but Klepta’s parents decided to marry her to a rich big man, who, however, did not know what love was. The girl decided to run away to her lover and go somewhere far away together to experience their love. Passing through the forest, the girl was seen by Turks, who, captivated by her beauty, chased her. She decided to hide, but she couldn’t. Just before they caught her, she prayed to God that at that moment the earth would open and swallow her, so that the Turks would not catch her. That’s exactly what happened, and that’s how Klepta was saved. As soon as the girl sank into the ground, violent water gushed out from there and drowned the tormentors. A beautiful lake was formed in the place, which the locals named after the beauty Klepta from the genus Uza, or as we know it to this day, Kleptusa.