The "Kazana" mountain shelter was built by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) in 1957 as a shelter for researchers, working on the observation of the southernmost micro-glacier in Europe - Snezhnika.

Research is still conducted by Bulgarian and foreign scientists, and the conditions for staying in the shelter are quite primitive - two connected bunks that can be used for overnight stays. The shelter is supposed to be taken care for by the local "El Tepe" tourist association, but in reality, over the years, initiatives to improve the conditions in the shelter have been organized by volunteers. The shelter is also a key starting point for one of the most difficult places for winter mountaineering in Bulgaria - the north face of Vihren peak.

It is a convenient shelter for tourists in case of worsening weather conditions and could be of great help to mountain rescuers in the event of an accident in the area.

The shelter falls within the territorial jurisdiction and is owned by Pirin National Park.