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What started in 1986 as two friends burning an eight-foot statue on a San Francisco beach has grown into an event that sets a 105-feet tall statue on fire around the summer solstice. This year's Burning Man festival is taking place on August 27th to September 4th, but has already been responsible for stunning photos that prove how wild it actually is.

Billed as a "Radical Ritual," Burning Man 2017 has become a desert oasis for about 70,000 people. It describes itself as a "temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance." Scroll down to experience the crazy "ritual" through pictures, and don't forget to vote for your favorite ones!

More info: burningman.org (h/t dyt)

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    #2

    Burning-man-2017

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    Lillian Chesak
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I saw something like this at the art museum in Cincinnati. The artist used laser cut steel to form intricate shadows

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    #3

    Burning Man 2017

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    Mat Biller
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Websites always show the most amazing pieces of art at Burning Man, but they fail to showcase some of the horrible treatment from alumnus burners upon people who are new on the Playa. Unfortunately over the years this Festival has evolved into a nesting center of utter wannabe nouveau riche hippie douchebags. They use the idea of togetherness, art and freedom in order to blast their brains out on drugs and try to score free cigarettes and unconsented sex. I have no doubt that people are still there for the right reasons, to support love, experience, and enlightenment, but the water supply has officially been tainted and it gets more acrid every year.

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    #4

    Burning Man 2017

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    Connie Martin
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The way she's articulated and has cables at her knees and wrists, it looks like she can dance. I'd love to see that!

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    #6

    Burning Man 2017

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    Marcella Brief
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I live in Fernley they may take it out of the desert, (which is debatable, drive 15 miles away and see the dump sites) but the garbage they leave in dumpsters they overfill, on the side of the road, and worst of all down our streets is sickening!! And if you live out here you see the destruction and lack of disregard to our parks when bags and bags of garbage, sleeping pads and bags are strewn for us the residents to clean up after!

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    #11

    Burning-man-2017

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    Melissa Apple
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is similar to what I start to get in my vision at the beginning of a migraine

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    Asher Adams
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The impressive part is what's in the background! At night, the whole thing spins like a ferris wheel and theres a strobe that gives an illusion of a skeleton rowing the boat....oh, did i mentioned that the movement is powered by 3 ropes on either side that must be pulled in a concerted effort by onlookers on either side?

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    #14

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    Ryk Lesser
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's my old Bus!! Still radiating from all the orange sunshine we took in it!!

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    #18

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    Robert Bailey
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And the road warrior. That was the last we ever saw of him. He lives no only in my memories.

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    #26

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    Grandgenius
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wish it wasn't a selfie - I can see her arms in the reflection in the glasses

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    #27

    Burning Man 2017

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    Asher Adams
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those ropes you see hanging is what powers this beast. The wheel starts turning and a strobe flashes at night, which then creates an illusion of skeletons in place rowing the boat!

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    #37

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    Ok Ha-Neul
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i'm not even gonna lie seeing that in the dark would scare the c**p out of me

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    #53

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    Tammy Chapman
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh, I saw this one earlier. But it was in daylight. It Looks Even More Beautiful All Lit Up!!

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    #58

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    #61

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    Joelle Jansen
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I look at the fishnets and think; "but how do you apply sunscreen through that?"

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    #63

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    Celestial Lynx
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow... an arctic man in a desert... what irony and such a strange contradiction...

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    #73

    Burning Man 2017

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    Tammy Chapman
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok, I LOVE that particular shade of BLUE on her outfit. But that is the only thing I like about this photo.

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    #74

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    Bonni Poch
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Best picture of the lot. Question is...what is the sewing machine plugged in to?

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    #78

    Burning Man 2017

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    Aessidhe Eclipse
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well, she should do that in front of that sign telling about having sand in weird places ;)

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    #81

    Burning Man 2017

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    #82

    Burning Man 2017

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    Victoria Nicole
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All these pictures are amazing, but I'd love to see normal looking people represented in more of these photos. Even at a festival touted for embracing everyone, only women who look like models make it into these photos?

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    #85

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    Willie D'Kay
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Miss Fritter and Red had a baby? (Sorry, my kid is obsessed with Disney Cars and my mind goes there)

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    #93

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    Aessidhe Eclipse
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    woah, they made shibari more extreme with the sandstorm, these hipsters take even bdsm further like it wasn't already offstream xD

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    #96

    Burning Man 2017

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    Dnelle1972
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It looks like the Pillsbury Doughboy and Oogie Boogie had a baby.

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    #102

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    #107

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    Bill Survilo
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    surrealistic pillow can i pass beneath your willow and find the dream steam of euphoria.

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    #113

    Burning Man 2017

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    Olivia Nickel
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope I never see you there LG. You just killing my vibe today. Imagine how intrusive it would be in the moment!

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    #120

    Burning Man 2017

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    Jack Hill
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't get so self- conscious. You can be like her if you invest money and time into your appearance. Her hair, breasts, waist and probably face is fake. Many of these women use fillers and gets breast implants.

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    #128

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    #135

    Burning Man 2017

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    Paul Beebe
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sad that folks have to lock their stuff up at Burning Man, of all places...

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    #145

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    Karen Henson
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    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's refreshing. Real people are much more interesting than all these airbrushed models...

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    SriGanesh.Ninja
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a cute and hot Girl japanese umbrella, cycle, desert. Perfect.

    #152

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    Lauri Callen
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree with Willie!! Overall, this was fascinating for observing the interesting element that IS Burning Man, however, only choosing hot chicks is also tasteless. That is NOT the true mission of BM. Quite disappointed with the constant barrage of perfection... let's see more of the quirky!!! Too bad.

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