Albuquerque truly is the hot air balloon capital of the world, not just during the Balloon Fiesta, but year ‘round. That’s in part because of what we call the “Albuquerque box.” In the morning, when the air is cold, the winds move in one direction. Then, when the sun rises above the Sandia Mountains, it heats the higher elevation air sooner than it heats the ground. So, as a balloon climbs from the cold ground up to 500 or 600 feet, it encounters the warm air, which moves in the other direction. So the balloons lift off, head south, then rise up and hit the warmer air, which carries them back toward the north. It’s a unique weather feature that is great for balloon pilots and incredibly lucky for spectators. Because of the unlimited vistas, you can see the balloons from almost anywhere in the city. And our fantastic weather makes the whole year great for flying.