The 86th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has begun in South Dakota, drawing hundreds of thousands of riders to the small town and the surrounding Black Hills region. Billed as the world's largest motorcycle gathering, the event has a significant impact on the tiny town, temporarily swelling its population many times over and providing a major boost to the local and state economy.

The ten-day rally, held every August, features races, concerts and group rides across Sturgis and the wider Black Hills area. It has grown from its origins as a small gathering, reportedly rooted in providing community for Second World War veterans, into a major fixture on the international motorcycling calendar, attracting an estimated half a million attendees.