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Walker Canyon, California, USA
Walker Canyon is located in the Temescal Mountains, Riverside County, California. It features lush green hills dotted with millions of vibrant orange wildflowers.
With its vibrant beauty, Walker Canyon immediately captured the attention of tourists, and hundreds of landscape photos taken there have been posted on social media.
Immediately, the number of tourists surged, causing serious traffic congestion in the city, and the flower fields were trampled by inconsiderate tourists. Therefore, the city authorities had to close the roads leading to Walker Canyon to reduce the number of visitors.
Rue Crémieux, Paris, France
Rue Crémieux is known as the most "photogenic" street in Paris, with its cobblestone path and brightly colored houses. Because of this, many models and bloggers have come here to take photos and post them on Instagram, making the street increasingly famous.
Immediately, the number of tourists increased rapidly, especially those who love taking photos for social media, which affected the lives of the locals to some extent because people were constantly taking pictures in front of their houses.
Locals have petitioned the city authorities to install a gate on the street. This gate would be closed during peak tourist times, such as at dawn or dusk, to prevent visitors from entering Rue Crémieux during these periods.
Santorini, Greece
The number of tourists visiting Greece has doubled since Instagram was launched in 2010. Of these, Santorini, the "island of angels," attracts the most visitors.
Santorini, part of the Cyclades archipelago in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Greece, is famous for its sheer cliffs embracing beaches of black sand formed from volcanic ash and its striking houses painted in two contrasting shades of blue and white.
Tourists flocked here after images of this beautiful island appeared on social media. However, the island's infrastructure could not meet the demands of tourists, and the problem of overtourism has put a lot of pressure on the lives of local people and the environment.
Lempuyang Temple, Bali, Indonesia
Pura Lempuyang Luhur is located on Mount Lempuyang in eastern Bali, about 90 km from the center of Ubud. It is one of the nine oldest surviving temples on the high mountain, boasting breathtaking natural scenery and deeply rooted in Indonesian religious and cultural traditions.
The temple features a magnificent and impressive "gateway to heaven" that cuts across the sky, symbolizing the boundary between the outside world and the temple. To reach it, visitors must climb over 1,700 steps.
However, this did not deter tourists from visiting the temple; the number of visitors continued to increase, seriously affecting the peace and solemnity of this sacred temple.
Delta Lake, Wyoming, USA
To reach Delta Lake, visitors must hike over 13 kilometers, traversing steep, rocky paths through dense forests. However, the scenery of Delta Lake is well worth the effort. With its turquoise waters, Delta Lake is unbelievably beautiful.
However, the rapid increase in tourists flocking to Delta Lake has led to trampled trees and flowers, and litter scattered everywhere. Therefore, at the end of 2018, the Wyoming Tourism and Travel Commission had to urge tourists to stop tagging Delta Lake in social media posts in order to preserve the pristine beauty of the forest and lake.
Choi Hung Estate apartment building, Hong Kong
When browsing trending travel destinations on social media, you've probably come across a picture taken in a courtyard with a colorful building as a backdrop. That's Choi Hung Estate in Hong Kong, also known as the Rainbow Apartment.
Located in Ngau Chi Wan, Kowloon Island, this apartment building is one of Hong Kong's most beloved locations. The building is painted in the colors of the rainbow to dispel the stuffy, cramped atmosphere of the apartments and bring joy and positivity to everyone.
Every year, this apartment building attracts hundreds of people who come here to take amazing photos. However, the sheer number of people makes it impossible for residents to use the basketball court, and some visitors even enter and exit the apartment complex without permission.
Tulip fields, Netherlands
The Netherlands is famous for its vast fields of colorful tulips stretching to the horizon – the perfect backdrop for a stunning Instagram-worthy photo. However, the influx of tourists trampling on the fields for photos is putting farmers at risk of losing thousands of dollars.
Therefore, the Netherlands Tourism Council had to launch a campaign urging visitors not to damage the flower gardens, and also compiled a list of do's and don'ts when visiting these tulip fields. Many volunteers are also stationed here to inform visitors about the history of the flower fields and explain why they need to respect this landscape.
