Königssee, St. Bartholomä pier, Bavaria, Germany-Austria.

Summertime in St. Bartholomä, originally uploaded by B℮n.

The Königssee is a lake located in the extreme southeast of the German state of Bavaria, near the border with Austria. It's all part of the Berchtesgaden National Park. Located at a Jurassic rift it was formed by glaciers during the last ice age. It stretches about 7.7 km. The lake similar to a fjord is surrounded by steeply rising flanks of mountains up to 2700 m. The lake is noted for its clear water and is advertised as the cleanest lake in Germany. For this reason, only electric driven passenger ships, rowing and pedal boats have been permitted on the lake since 1909. Due to its picturesque setting, the lake and surrounding parklands are very popular with tourists and hikers. In addition, the lake's position surrounded by sheer rock walls creates an echo, which is known for its clarity. St. Bartholomä, a famous pilgrimage church with a small inn nearby, is located on a peninsula about halfway down the western lakeshore. It named for Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Bartholomäus in German. A first chapel at the lake was built in 1134 from 1697 onwards it has been rebuilt in a Baroque style with a floor plan modelled on Salzburg Cathedral, two onion domes and a red domed roof. St. Bartholomä and the southern edge can only be reached by boat or via hiking trails up the surrounding mountains.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, what lake's the fairest of them all?" Lake Königssee is what most of our visitors would answer. Hardly surprising, with its crystal-clear emerald-green water and mystifying atmosphere. Innumerable fish swim its depths and its surface reflects the rocky walls of the Watzmann massif. Photo taken the pier at St. Bartholomä.