Burning Man 2012: Federal Officials Approve Larger Population Cap For Black Rock City (PHOTOS)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ten thousand more people are expected to be on hand in the Nevada desert for this year's Burning Man festival after federal officials increased the event's attendance cap.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a special recreation permit to San Francisco-based Black Rock City LLC, the nonprofit group behind Burning Man. The permit allows 60,900 people to attend the arts festival, up from 50,000 last year. Officials announced the increase Tuesday.

Organizers had requested the change in the face of growing demand for tickets. The request was met with little opposition.

The annual arts and music gathering takes place in the sprawling Black Rock Desert, about 100 miles north of Reno, during the week leading up to Labor Day. It's overseen by federal officials because it takes place on public land.

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• The Temple at dawn

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