Burning Man is surely one of the most unusual and extravagant festivals in American history. Every year since the early 1990s, as many as 50,000 people have gathered in a temporary "city" in northern Nevada's Black Rock Desert to celebrate art, life and radical individuality.

Burning Man 2012 came to its awe-inspiring climax on Saturday night, as participants set fire to "The Man," a huge wooden effigy. While seeing a giant burning effigy is certainly bizarre, it's hardly the most interesting thing at the festival.

Participants are encouraged to partake in surreal art experiments, leading to some pretty trippy visuals all around. Click "Start" to see some of the most artistic, interesting and downright insane phenomena of Burning Man 2012.

Participants watch the flames from El Pulpo Mecanico during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

A 50-foot-tall wooden art installation Anubis burns during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

"The Man" appears at sunrise during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

Participants ride an "art car" during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

"Samurai" dance at sunrise during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

Hallie McConlogue stays cool partially submerged in a fishbowl helmet on Friday during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

Mark Gower, dressed as a samurai, dances at sunrise on Friday during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

Rainbow Fish, left, and Ambidrextrous, their Playa names, enjoy a bottle of wine and a kiss at sunrise on Friday during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

Ciberfy, his play name, dances at sunrise on Friday during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

An aerial view of the temporary Black Rock City during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada on Thursday.

A man is captured and tagged by members of Animal Control during the Billion Bunny March during the Burning Man 2012 "Fertility 2.0" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada on Thursday.