Sliding Rocks of Death Valley

Image © Pirate Scott


Sliding Rocks refer to unexplained movement of rocks on long tracks in Racetrack Playa at Death Valley National Park. There are no strong scientific explanations of rocks moving on the plain without any human or animal intervention.

Sliding Rocks of Death Valley
Image © Pirate Scott

A number of long tracks can be seen in Racetrack Playa where small and big rocks (some time as heavy as an average human being) start moving in arbitrary directions. These rocks are in different shape and size and move every two or three years. These sliding rocks have originated from a hillside of Dolomite located in the south of the Playa or traveled from adjacent slopes. Some of these rocks slide in straight tracks, some wander around, and some of the rocks tumble while they travel.

The mysterious movement of these sliding rocks is subject to scientific study but there are no strong justifications of these movements so far. Rocks similar in shape and size may start traveling together in parallel and end up in totally different directions. These rocks can travel straight, turn right or left and even travel in reverse direction on their own tracks.


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