The Sliding Rocks of Racetrack Playa are mysterious rocks at Death Valley in California. These rocks can be found on the floor of the Racetrack Playa with long trails behind them. The rocks move and inscribe long tracks along the smooth valley floor without human or animal intervention. Although no one has actually seen the rocks move, the long meandering tracks left behind in the mud surface attest to their activity.
The Racetrack Playa at Death Valley is not the only place where tracks from sliding rocks can be found. This geological phenomenon have been observed and studied in various locations including Little Bonnie Claire Playa in Nevada. However, the number and length of tracks are most notable at Racetrack Playa of Death Valley in California. Some of these rocks weigh several hundred pounds and have traveled as far as 1,500 feet.
The tracks of sliding rocks at Racetrack Playa have been studied since the early 1900s. But the origins of stone movement are not confirmed and remain one of the most strangest mysteries of the planet. These mysterious sliding rocks move only every two or three years and it takes three or four years to develop most tracks. Rocks with rough bottoms leave straight tracks while those with smooth bottoms tend to wander.
The tracks left by these sliding stones differ in both size, direction and length. Interestingly, the rocks sometimes turn over exposing another edge to the ground resulting in a different track. Sometimes more than one rock slide in the same direction for a time and then one may abruptly change direction. Sometimes two similarly sized and shaped rocks may travel uniformly and eventually one could move ahead or stop in its track.
The Racetrack Playa at Death Valley is not the only place where tracks from sliding rocks can be found. This geological phenomenon have been observed and studied in various locations including Little Bonnie Claire Playa in Nevada. However, the number and length of tracks are most notable at Racetrack Playa of Death Valley in California. Some of these rocks weigh several hundred pounds and have traveled as far as 1,500 feet.
The tracks of sliding rocks at Racetrack Playa have been studied since the early 1900s. But the origins of stone movement are not confirmed and remain one of the most strangest mysteries of the planet. These mysterious sliding rocks move only every two or three years and it takes three or four years to develop most tracks. Rocks with rough bottoms leave straight tracks while those with smooth bottoms tend to wander.
The tracks left by these sliding stones differ in both size, direction and length. Interestingly, the rocks sometimes turn over exposing another edge to the ground resulting in a different track. Sometimes more than one rock slide in the same direction for a time and then one may abruptly change direction. Sometimes two similarly sized and shaped rocks may travel uniformly and eventually one could move ahead or stop in its track.
