Ian
priscilla 1Sailing stones
August 31st 2007 11:02
The sailing stones, also referred to as sliding rocks or moving rocks, are a geological phenomenon found in Racetrack Playa, Death Valley. The stones slowly move across the surface of the playa, leaving a track as they go, without human or animal intervention. They have never been seen or filmed in motion and are not unique to The Racetrack. Similar rock travel patterns have been recorded in several other playas in the region but the number and length of travel groves on The Racetrack are notable.
Racetrack stones only move once every two or three years and most tracks last for just three or four years. Stones with rough bottoms leave straight striated tracks while those with smooth bottoms wander. Stones sometimes turn over, exposing another edge to the ground and leaving a different-sized track in the stone's wake.
A balance of specific conditions are thought to be needed for stones to move:
1. A saturated yet non-flooded surface,
2. Thin layer of clay,
3. Very strong gusts as initiating force,
4. Strong sustained wind to keep stones going.
*These photos used with permission from Damn Funny Pictures.
**This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation Licence. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Sailing stones.
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Comment by charliesgirl_992000
Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity
Tammy
Comment by Ian
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I'd never heard of these either until recently and I find them fascinating.
I also like how nobody has ever seen or caught on film the rocks moving, a sort of final frontier.
Comment by charliesgirl_992000
Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity
Tammy