Sheytan Dere

Sheytan Dere, also known as the Devil’s Canyon, is a canyon located along the Arda River, immediately after the Studen Kladenets Dam, near the village of Rabovo.

The steep cliffs, formed from solidified volcanic lava from the long-extinct nearby volcano St. Ilia, create a distinctive gorge that is unique to Bulgaria.

Over the years, the waters of the Arda River have eroded the softer and loose rocks, leaving behind the hard rocks of the canyon, which are much more resistant to the force of the water. Due to past volcanic activity, numerous craters were formed and later shaped by water. Viewed from above, the area resembles a landscape typical of lunar wastelands.

The canyon is about 1 km long, with varying widths from 1 to 7 meters and heights up to 11 meters. The depth of the water reaches up to 25 meters, and many legends are told about the deepest spots.

The name Sheytan Dere comes from Turkish (Şeytan dere) and translates to Devil’s Canyon or Devil’s Gorge.