The Sailing Stones

The Death Valley Sailing Stones appear to be incredibly mysterious. Some smooth stones that appear to be as ordinary as anything are out in the middle of a level, lifeless, dry lake bed. But occasionally, if you go looking, you'll find trails hidden behind the stones. The stones left extensive footprints in the sand. Sometimes they move in parallel, and other times they move in a zigzag pattern. Additionally, the trails may be exceedingly long. And they've baffled people at least since 1948.

There are no other traces in the earth surrounding the stones. There were neither animal nor, most definitely, human footprints. It's not like the stones are rolling in any way because they are flat. Some stones weigh as much as 600 lbs. From a distance, it appears as though these rocks creep across the lake bottom in the middle of the night.

The fact that these stones don't always move makes it extremely difficult to determine how they are moving. The time between moves can even be years. You are unable to simply stand outside in a lawn chair and see it. So, using time-lapse cameras and GPS, scientists set up a sting operation. The explanation itself is intriguing but hardly mysterious.

Before the stones to move, the playa where they are located must fill with water. nonetheless, not much water. The stones must be left exposed. The shallow water must then get cold enough at night to freeze. When that occurs, sheets of ice start to form that are blown around by the wind and can shift the rocks in front of them. The ice entirely melts later in the day, leaving behind a rock and the path it took.