The Most Photographed Lakes on Earth

There are few things more satisfying for a photographer than a truly scenic landscape. Stunningly gorgeous, and it won’t disappear mid-shot, make an unflattering face, or move out of frame? There is a reason that so many photographers are keen to capture the beauty of nature. And from default laptop screensavers to inspirational posters, those scenic locales are displayed everywhere.

But some spots are inevitably more photographed than others, and lakes are especially popular subjects. Get the lighting right, and there is nothing like a sunset over sparkling water, or the setting of a mineral-rich glacial lake’s turquoise water against a backdrop of slate-grey mountain peaks. Photographers looking to capture a dynamic scene often gravitate towards those popular sites, but which are most popular?

Whether you are flipping through stacks of wall calendars or hunting for inspirational quotes, there is a pretty good chance you have seen a photo of these eight most-photographed lakes.

Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, Canada

Though it is difficult to definitively rank anything by a designation as squirrely as “most photographed,” there is no question about the world’s most photographed lake, or lakes. It is the proud claim to fame of these two beautiful (and adjacent) glacial lakes in Canada.

Though Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are separate, they are located side-by-side in Canada’s Banff National Park. And that is not all they have in common: both are known for the brilliance of their color. Each is dyed a rich, cloudy turquoise color by its mineral content. Endlessly photogenic and small enough to fit nicely in-frame, these lakes have been immortalized in more social media posts than any other, and due to their proximity, they are often collectively counted as the world’s most photographed lake.

It is worth noting their differences, though. Lake Louise is larger, ringed by mountains and evergreen forests, and set in a V-shaped valley characteristic of a topography shaped by the long-ago movements of glaciers. Moraine Lake is narrower and boasts a more brilliant color, giving it a slight edge in the social media rankings over its bigger cousin.

Lake Como, Italy

In one recent study by Entertainment site OntarioCasinos, of most photogenic lakes (as interpreted by the number of times each lake was mentioned as a hashtag on social media), Italy’s end-all, be-all romantic destination was one of the top finishers. If you have ever seen a picture of an ornate Renaissance villa on the shores of a placid, tree-ringed lake, there is a very good chance it was shot here.

Lake Como is located in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, between the city of Milan and the northern border with Switzerland, and has long been regarded as a must-see tourist spot. Lakeside resorts and elegant villas dot its 29-mile length along the shore; they are the subject of many of the countless photographs and videos capturing the lake in both social and traditional media.

Bodensee (Lake Constance), Germany

Another of the world’s most photographed lakes doesn’t quite have the name recognition of Lake Como, but it more than makes up for it. Outside of its scenic beauty, this alpine lake touches the borders of three countries. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland meet along its banks, which are notably milder in climate than nearby inland areas.

So why is Lake Constance (Bodensee in the local German) so widely photographed? Try the abundant summer resorts and charming traditional architecture of its surrounding towns on for size. And though it is too expansive to notice from a distance, there is a green tint to the waters of this glacial lake, always popular with photography enthusiasts.

Coupled with its easy access from not one but three countries, Lake Constance is an easily accessible example of a central European alpine lake. The pleasant, tree-lined shores only augment this aesthetic appeal.

Lake Tahoe, United States

Easily the most photographed lake in the United States, Northern California’s Lake Tahoe is hugely popular with outdoor enthusiasts and photographers alike for its spectacular mountain setting and vivid color. If the color of the water is what makes or breaks a lake in your book, you should, and maybe already do, know that Lake Tahoe is as blue as a lake can be. No wonder one study by Casino.ch found that Lake Tahoe was photographed more often (by measure of Instagram hashtags) than any other lake in the world.

As beautiful as Lake Tahoe undeniably is, that isn’t likely the sole reason it is so popular. The lake’s proximity to popular winter sports resorts (the area hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics) makes it a popular destination even among the camera-shy set, and more than a few of those skiers likely contributed to the lake’s booming Instagram hashtag.

West Lake (Xihu), China

To American readers, the name “West Lake” might not ring any bells. Even among travelers to China, it is not often mentioned in the same breath as world-famous spots like the Forbidden City or the Great Wall. But tourist attractions in China often go way back, and this one is no exception: West Lake has been lauded among visitors for over a thousand years.

Inspiring countless works of art and poetry beginning in the Tang Dynasty (which ended in the 10th century), West Lake, known in Chinese as Xihu, is not new to the art scene. So it is no surprise that it captured just as many hearts through the medium of photography. As one of China’s most popular domestic tourist attractions, it was bound to do a brisk trade in social media snapshots.

Its location can’t hurt. The nearby city of Hangzhou is located just two hours inland from Shanghai. And with sights made famous by centuries of artistic inspiration, it is no wonder that West Lake is the only lake in Asia to crack the top 10 in one study by Casino.ch of the world’s most picturesque lakes.

Lake Garda, Italy

Lake Como may get all of the press, but northern Italy’s “second lake,” Lake Garda, is no slouch, either. Far from it: it is one of the most popularly photographed lakes on earth. And in many ways, it is like Lake Como without the crowds.

Lesser-known and closer to major tourist hubs like Milan, Venice, and Verona, Lake Garda makes a convincing case for itself as a destination for an Italian lakeside stay. And for photographers, there are many of the same draws: abundant greenery, elegant villas, brilliant blue water.

Though its international name recognition is spotty, Lake Garda is clearly not universally flying under the radar. One of the most photographed lakes (as measured by the number of social media posts, an incomplete but helpful metric) couldn’t possibly be. And if you visit, you will likely find out why: European locals know that Lake Garda is the place to be. You may not hear much English, but this up-and-coming destination has been drawing German, Swiss, and Austrian visitors for years. Travel influencers may be getting wind of it now, but they are not the people who made Lake Garda one of the most-photographed lakes in the world.

Loch Ness, Scotland

There may be no monster lurking in Scotland’s most famous lake, but you know what is a true monster? Its social media presence. The infamous Nessie might be partially responsible for its fame, but it is the scenic beauty of Loch Ness that makes it one of the world’s most-photographed (and most-posted) lakes.

Loch Ness has a decidedly different aesthetic appeal than your average alpine glacial lake, though. The scenery is not dramatic so much as it is broody, as the Scottish Highlands’ storied heather hills slope gently downwards into a dark, murky lake. Castle ruins dot its banks. If you have ever wanted to pretend you are the protagonist of a Gothic novel, this may be the place to do it.

Plus, Loch Ness is located mere miles from the city of Inverness, one of Scotland’s most popular destinations. Take the cryptid, the scenery, and the convenient location all together, and you have the perfect recipe for a lake to be photographed. Just check #lochness on your social media platform of choice to confirm.

Scratching the Surface

It is hard to say which lake is truly most-photographed: researchers don’t tend to devote their grant funding to counting individual photographs of each of the world’s major lakes. But by turning to social media numbers, you get a picture of the shores photographers most like to haunt. And once you have, there is no mystery why these eight lakes have big-time photo recognition: every last one is worthy of a starring role in your computer’s screensaver.