The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place early each year in October. It's the largest single-launching of hot air balloons in the world, due largely to a unique weather pattern present each fall called the Albuquerque Box.

The Sandia Mountains, located just east of Albuquerque, create pockets of northerly and southerly flowing wind currents at different elevations allowing balloonists to land relatively close to their launch point.

Check out the photo gallery below, as well as the brief video above, showing a balloon inflate and and take off.

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