PICTURES OF THE DAY

DAKAR AND BACK. (Whever that is?) Apparently, somewhere in Africa and the Dakar Rally is now what once was the Paris-Dakar Rally which began in 1977. In 2008, the Dakar was cancelled after four French citizens were murdered along the proposed route and additional terrorist threats were assessed. The event was moved last year to South America.

Here, Spain's Gerard Farres Guell kicks up sand with his Aprilia during the 4th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Fiambala, Argentina, and Copiapo, Chile on January 5, 2010. Spain's Marc Coma won the stage, France's David Casteu took second place and France's Cyril Despres third.

South African Giniel De Villiers drives his Volkswagen during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010.

To learn more about the Dakar Rally, click here.

(Photos by Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images and Natacha Pisarenko/AFP/Getty Images)