A “mass ascension” at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an astounding sight. At dawn, several hundred hot-air balloons rise together from the grassy field at Balloon Fiesta Park, filling the sky and quietly drifting across the city.
But all those balloons have to come down somewhere. And as the metro becomes more developed, it’s increasingly difficult for pilots to find landing spots.
Nearly 600 balloons and 1,000 pilots from all over the world are expected to gather in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the nine-day festival. It’s the largest ballooning event in the world, drawing close to 900,000 spectators.
According to the program announcement, on a calm day, a balloon will need at least half an acre of space to set down safely. The area must be free of trees, power lines and other obstacles.
Picture Credit : Google