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It is this outlook that makes many influencers travel to Königssee
Photo: Sabine Dobel / dpa
Crystal clear water, a mountain panorama, the Königssee glistens below: The natural pools at the Königsbachfall in the Berchtesgadener Land National Park are popular on social media as one of those motifs that seem to guarantee attention and a lot of likes.
But the Bavarian idyll no longer only attracts individual amateur photographers. Although there is no official route to the pools, rangers counted a good 400 tourists on nice days. What remains are trampled vegetation and rubbish. The management of the park has therefore been pushing for an entry ban since last summer. The decision at the Berchtesgadener Land district office should be made in the near future.
The plan to lock the pool area is controversial.
The municipal council of Schönau am Königssee has spoken out against it.
Nature conservation associations argue differently.
On the other hand, some locals who have known the Gumpen - quickly dubbed the "Natural Infinity Pool" on the internet - as a place of retreat away from the hustle and bustle, would like it to be closed.
"We don't say anything - we're biased," comments a Schönauer who is looking for peace and quiet at the Königsbach Falls.
Day trips to the photo hotspot
Tourists from the USA, Asia, Russia, India and many European countries set out on their way to the pools, guided by directions on the Internet, reports ranger manager Ole Behling.
A young woman from Paderborn stated that she started in the car at 3 a.m. to hike to the waterfall - and then drive home again.
However, some visitors are disillusioned after a long journey.
The images on the net do not always correspond exactly to reality.
"Is that the pool?" Asks a group of hikers from Ingolstadt.
In fact, one of the typical Königsbachfall photos is currently impossible: a beech tree felled by strangers, probably in response to selfie tourism, blocks the upper pool and blocks the view of the Königssee.
In the lower pool, on the other hand, a lot of water is currently gushing from the snowmelt - the floods could pull bathers down over the edge of the pool.
"Danger of drowning" is warned on signs.
Two young men died in 2019
The whirled up water was fatal for two 21-year-olds from Saxony in a lower pool in 2019.
They died in what is known as white water, which contains so much oxygen that one is drowned in it.
The Berchtesgaden National Park is not alone in Germany with its problem of accommodating a place of longing for Instagramer: other places also gain popularity through postings on social media that the local people do not necessarily want.
One example is the Rakotz Bridge in Saxony, which cannot be entered, but which became known after a BMX cyclist posed for a photo on it.
Since then, people at the bridge have been "literally overrun" on nice days, says Steffen Stoppe from the police in Weißwasser.
However, there should not be a block
»The pictures are already going around the world«
In Schönau, on the other hand, access to the entire area of around 30 hectares could be prohibited.
"The planned, at best temporary closure at the Königsbach waterfall is all about the area of newly created trails and vegetation damage due to social media and influencers," says National Park Director Roland Baier.
The state association for bird protection, which was asked for an opinion, pleads for a multi-year closure so that the vegetation can recover.
The German Alpine Association, in turn, rejects this measure.
However, a closure directly on the Königsbach and a bathing ban are conceivable, they say.
The town council of Schönau also remains skeptical.
"If something is forbidden, it only gets more interesting," says the second mayor Richard Lenz (Free Voters).
"The pictures are already going around the world."
Sabine Dobel, dpa / mbö
