North America / Natural world
The sailing stones
Across a dry lakebed in Death Valley, rocks leave long trails in the mud. Researchers have observed the rare conditions that move them.
The tracks record events that may be separated by years. Their slow-moving explanation depends on a brief meeting of ice and wind.
A CLOSER LOOK
Racetrack Playa’s stones can remain stationary for years. When the right shallow water conditions allow thin ice to form, floating ice sheets and wind can push stones over the wet lakebed. The ground dries with their paths still visible.
The surface is fragile. Visitors should stay off muddy areas and leave the stones exactly where they are. The trails themselves are part of the evidence: moving a rock by hand erases a small piece of the story.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
National Park ServiceDeath Valley’s Moving RocksNational Park ServiceThe RacetrackOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.