Crystalline waters of Eibsee become symbol of over tourism in Bavaria

A picture-perfect Alpine mountain lake in Germany draws so many visitors every summer. Located in Grainau, southern Bavaria, the Eibsee Lake have become a hit on social media with its crystalline waters, fuelling fears it will be loved to death by over tourism.

Grainau, a town of 3,600 inhabitants, hosts about 620,000 overnight stays per year, plus huge numbers of daytime visitors. The area becomes crowded with busses, causing traffic jams and a packed-out carpark. Situated at the foot of Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak, the Eibsee Lake has joined other destinations like Venice, in re-evaluating the pros and cons of drawing throngs of visitors, albeit not yet on the same scale.