Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, California, is home to one of the natural world’s mysteries: rocks that sail across this lakebed, propelled by nothing that anyone can see. Stones of dolomite and syenite, ranging from a few hundred grams to hundreds of kilogrammes, create visible trails as they slide across the playa surface, without human or animal intervention. The trails show that these rocks have rolled and zigzagged across the ground, sometimes for as long as 860 feet. The stones’ mysterious movements are probably caused by a combination of rain, wind, ice and sun all working together.
To see the moving rocks, drive two miles south of the Grandstand parking area. Walk at least a half mile toward the southeast corner of the playa for the best views of rocks and their tracks on the playa. Erosional forces cause rocks from the surrounding mountains to tumble to the surface of the Racetrack. Once on the floor of the playa the rocks move across the level surface leaving trails as records of their movements. Some of the moving rocks are large and have traveled as far as 1,500 feet. Throughout the years many theories have been suggested to explain the mystery of these rock movements. A research project has suggested that a rare combination of rain and wind conditions enable the rocks to move. A rain of about 1/2 inch, will wet the surface of the playa, providing a firm but extremely slippery surface. Strong winds of 50 mph or more, may skid the large boulders along the slick mud.
Picture Credit : Google