Riffelsee has become a magnet for tourists in search of the perfect picture. Andia/Universal Images Group
Edelweiss has not been seen around the Riffelsee for some years.
The Zermatt authorities have decided enough is enough.
Tourists can still come, but now they are shepherded towards the lake on marked paths, with the pastures fenced off.
The aim is not to deter visitors – after all Zermatt’s tourist office advertises the Riffelsee as a photo opportunity on its website – but to educate them about the alpine environment.
Inside the fences an alpine garden – Europe’s highest – has been created; narrow walkways allow visitors to take a closer look at the flowers, with QR codes explaining what they are.
It’s a fascinating glimpse of the biodiversity of the high Alps. Planning the garden, botanists found 148 different plant species.
Many tourists clearly appreciate it, taking time to examine the garden. Others though stream on by towards the lake, their selfie sticks aloft.
Zermatt’s problem is shared by other famous, or uniquely beautiful, parts of Europe.
In Florence there was fury after a tourist posted pictures of herself miming a lewd act with the Roman statue of Bacchus.
The beautiful southern Swiss village of Lavertezzo, famous for the emerald waters of the Verzasca river running through it, was overrun with cars, visitors, and litter after a video comparing it to the Maldives was posted on Facebook.
Meanwhile in the east of the country, Canton Glarus has witnessed a surge of wild campers, driven by Instagram, looking for clickable high mountain shots.

It’s dangerous for them, because many are not experienced hikers or climbers, but it’s worse for the alpine flora and fauna. The tents crush the pastures, the campers leave rubbish and human waste behind them.
Source: Swiss limit tourist access in bid to bring back Edelweiss – Stigmatis News










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