Welcome to the Playa
The setting for all of the commotion is the playa, or the dusty and dry lake bed where the festival occurs each year. The fine alkaline dust that makes up the playa is well known to be hazardous to your health and will finely coat any objects you bring with you out into the desert. Besides being difficult to get out of your hair and out from under your nails, this dust will all but require you to wear a face mask anytime you are out in the elements during the festival.