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Sailing Stones of Death Valley
Heavy rocks move across the desert floor on their own, leaving long trails behind them. No one had ever seen them move—until 2014, when the mystery was finally solved. But for decades, they baffled scientists.
1915 - Present
Death Valley, California
100+ witnesses
The Sailing Stones of Racetrack Playa puzzled scientists for decades—rocks that moved on their own.
The Phenomenon
In Death Valley:
According to documented records:
- Heavy rocks leave trails
- Across flat desert playa
- No one sees them move
- Trails up to 1,500 feet long
- Rocks weighing hundreds of pounds
The Mystery
For decades:
- Rocks clearly moved
- Left visible trails
- But movement never witnessed
- No satisfactory explanation
- Many theories proposed
Theories
Proposed explanations included:
- Wind (rocks too heavy)
- Aliens
- Magnetic fields
- Pranksters
- Ice
The Solution (2014)
Scientists finally observed:
- Thin ice sheets form
- On winter nights
- Wind pushes ice sheets
- Rocks embedded in ice
- Move across wet playa
How It Works
The process requires:
- Winter temperatures
- A shallow pond forming
- Ice sheets at night
- Light wind
- Perfect conditions—rare
Still Remarkable
Even explained:
- Phenomenon is rare
- Conditions align rarely
- Some trails remain puzzling
- Death Valley hosts other mysteries
- Nature’s strange beauty