Some 90,000 fans to attend 2016 Dakar Rally in Bolivia

Some 90,000 people will visit Bolivia to attend the 2016 Dakar Rally that will cross the country between Jan. 7 and 9 starting in Tarija, passing through Uyuni salt flat and later return to Argentina, local media reported on Monday.

   Bolivia's Tourism vice minister Ernesto Rossel said in an interview with a local TV channel that Dakar Rally will generate important economic resources for Bolivia thanks to the people attending the international competition.

   Bolivia is an attractive place for Dakar Rally due to the variety of landscapes, temperatures and soils. Drivers will have to go through extreme adaptation runs.

   Dakar Rally will start on Jan. 2 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On Jan. 3, the race will arrive in Villa Carlos Paz and then on Jan. 4 the stage will go from Villa Carlos Paz to Termas de Rio Hondo. On Jan. 5, it will start in Termas de Rio Hondo to Jujuy and on Jan. 6 the race will cross this point. These stages will be in Argentine territory.

   Later, on Jan. 7 the starting will be in Jujuy (Argentina) and will end in Uyuni (Bolivia) entering through Villazon and later continuing in Tarija. On Jan. 8 the stage will include the Uyuni salt plate and on Jan. 9 the race will start in Uyuni and will end in Salta (Argentina).

   Tarija will host an assistance and logistic camp for the rally's organizers and competitors to support the two-day race in Bolivia.

   The 2016 edition of Dakar Rally will end in Rosario, Argentina on Jan. 16, after crossing the Argentine sites of Salta, Belen, La Rioja, San Juan and Villa Carlos Paz.

   The first time Bolivia hosted Dakar Rally was in 2014.  Endi