Another day, another Insta-worthy location taking its revenge on trendy social media mavens. This time, the environment struck back at Instagram users who flocked to a beautiful bright-turquoise lake in northwest Spain.
Galicia is an autonomous Spanish community, and home to the final stop for Christian pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela route.
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The Spanish region is also home to some stunning lakes, but this particular striking one has been the object of social media’s obsession most recently.
Instagrammers flocked to the lake with its aquamarine waters set in a crater-like quarry. The lake, Monte Neme, is believed to be an abandoned dumpsite from a World War II tungsten mine.
Exposure to the lake environs, albeit limited, can cause irritations to the skin and eyes from contamination. Those who either fell, or took a dip or paddle in pursuit of the perfect Instagram post however, developed more severe symptoms which last for weeks in some cases. Patients cited skin rashes, vomiting and stomach problems, and had to be treated at local hospitals in the Galician province of Al Coruña.
On Instagram users uploaded images of photoshoots and family outings including young children and dogs. According to the New York Post, a local lobby group is calling on regional government to restrict access to the Monte Neme lake, and to put up warning signs in the area.
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This Instagram user, however, has the right idea:
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Image: Eduardo Quintela via Instagram
