Mysteries Surrounding The Sailing Stones Of Death Valley

By all standards, Death Valley National Park is an absolutely unusual location. Well-known for being the hottest site on Earth, Death Valley also stands at the driest and lowest elevation in North America.
The most unusual aspect of the valley is the enigmatic Racetrack Playa, where rocks drift across the flat desert landscape, apparently propelled by no power other than their own.

The mystery of the sailing stones

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Death Valley National Park, situated on the border of California & Nevada, was initially designated in 1933, holding one of the most mysterious phenomena in the world: rocks moving along the desert ground without any gravitational cause.
Famous as “sailing stones,” the rocks differ in size, from a few ounces to hundreds of pounds. Despite the fact that none has been able to see the rocks moving in person, it is obvious due to the trails left behind the stones and periodic changes in their location.

Scientific explanations

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Dolomite and syenite, the same materials that compose the surrounding mountains, make up the rocks of Racetrack Playa. Forces of erosion caused them to tumble down and rest on the parched ground beneath. Upon reaching the level surface of the playa, the rocks somehow move horizontally, leaving perfect tracks behind them to record their path.
A number of the biggest rocks have left behind trails with the length of up to 1,500 feet, indicating that they have traveled absolutely a long way from their initial place. Rocks having rough-bottomed surface leave straight tracks, while smooth-bottomed ones prefer to wander. Scientists have inspected and examined since the early 1900s, and have proposed numerous theories to clarify the enigmatic movements.
In 2014, with the help of time-lapse photography, scientists were capable of capturing the stones’ movement for the first time. The outcome greatly indicates that perfect balance of ice, water and wind caused the stones to sail in such an interesting way.
In the winter of 2014, a small pond freezing overnight and thawing the next day was formed by rain, creating a large sheet of ice reduced by mid-day to only a few mm thick. The sheet was driven by a light wind to break up and accumulate behind the stones, slowly pushing them ahead.

Visiting the Racetrack

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Just drive 2 miles south of the Grandstand parking area if you want to observe the moving rocks of the Racetrack Playa with your bare eyes. Walking about half a mile toward the southeast corner of the playa would be enough to grant you the best view, considering the precise location of the sailing stone is always changing.
Do not disturb the rocks or their tracks upon your visit. The playa also becomes muddy after the rain, so please be careful to keep away from the rocks and do not leave unsightly footprints during wet condition. You are not allowed to drive off established road, either.
The sailing stones of Death Valley continue to baffle park visitors and scientists alike. We may think we have found the answer to their movement, but who knows what other secrets lie in Death Valley? Pay a visit and see if you can come up with your own theory about this great phenomenon.