The Playa

The Playa refers to the Black Rock Desert, a dry lake bed in northwest Nevada where Burning Man has been held since 1990. See in Google Maps See on a USGS topographic map See in Google Earth 40.769, -119.220  The Playa is nearly flat, changing only a few feet in elevation over its expanse — roughly 35 miles long by 10 miles wide.

Playa - Black Rock City from the AirPlaya - Black Rock City from the AirPlaya - Black Rock City from the Air

In the summer, the surface is cracked dry alkaline mud (not sand).

PlayaPlayaPlayaPlaya

When crushed, this mud turns into a fine sticky white powder — which gets everywhere. Vehicle and foot traffic break up the surface. Add strong winds and you get dust storms. Playa dust's corrosive alkalinity quickly rusts metal objects. Cleaning playa dust is made easier by using a mildly acidic solution like vinegar or carbonated water.

Playa Dust DevilPlaya Dust Behind a Moving VehiclePlaya DustPlaya Dust StormPlaya Dust StormPlaya Dust StormPlaya Dust Storm

Each winter, the Playa mud becomes again wet, and passage over the lake bed surface is impossible.

Wet Playa (Drying Out in the Spring)Wet Playa = Mud

Here are some links to explorations around the Playa in the Black Rock Desert: