The Sliding Rocks of Death Valley

The Sliding Rocks of Death Valley

The sailing stones, Sidling rocks or moving rocks are a geological phenomena where rocks move in long tracks along a smooth valley floor without human or animal intervention. They have been recorded and studied in a number of places around racetrack Playa, Death valley, where the number and length of travel grooves are notable. The force behind their movement is not understood and is the subject of research.

Sliding rocks trails differ in directions and length. Some rocks which start next to each other start out travelling parallel, but one may abruptly change direction to the left, right or even back the direction it came from. Length also varies because two similarly sized and shaped rocks could travel uniformly, then one could stop dead or could burst ahead.

The sailing stones are a geological phenomena where rocks move in long tracks along a smooth wall.

The exact reason behind their motion is not yet found.