Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Mysterious Moving Rocks of Death Valley




Author: Christina Saylor
 
Many people believe that science has everything about earth all figured out, but this isn't true. There are thousands of phenomena all around the world that can't be explained by science. One of these takes place in Racetrack Playa, Death Valley, California, where rocks move about the playa without the assistance of humans or animals. This mysterious event has been named “The Sailing Stones of Death Valley” and despite much scientific research, it has not been fully solved.
            Since no one has actually witnessed the rocks moving, the only proof of their movement is the paths they leave behind, which are anywhere from 3 to 12 inches wide, tens to hundreds of feet long, and less than an inch deep. These stones vary in size, shape, smoothness, and type and move in seemingly indiscernible directions and patterns. A rock can start off moving in one direction, then suddenly change and go a new direction, sometimes even  turning completely back the way they came or looping around other stationary rocks. Two rocks can start off moving parallel to each other, then, out of nowhere, split off and go their separate ways.
            Many people have their own explanations for this occurrence: claiming that people are going out at night and moving them, supernatural entities are moving them, some people even claim that average humans are moving the rocks with their minds without even knowing it. The best explanation scientists have found for this phenomenon is the snow-melt from the surrounding mountains that occasionally covers the lake bed. This wet ground combined with the high winds that can reach up to 90mph at ground level create the perfect environment for rocks to slide easily across the ground. But how can this explain the patterns left by the rocks? If it was truly the wind moving these rocks, wouldn't parallel rocks be influenced to move the same direction and to switch direction at the same time as each other as the wind changes. Why are only some of the rocks moving throughout the valley while others remain stationary? Has science truly found the cause of these “sailing stones”, or is there still a great deal of mystery surrounding this occurrence?  

Works Cited:
Cahill, Tim. “Raising Heaven – Where Rocks Go Wandering.” Nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic, Nov. 2007. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
            Mason, Andrew. "The Sliding Rock Phenomenon." Physicsforums.com. Physicsforums.com, 22 Jan. 2005. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
Messina, Paula. "The Sliding Rocks of Racetrack Playa." Geosun.sjsu.edu. San Jose State University, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.
Mohl, Eric. "Blogs We Like." Lonelyplanet.com. Lonely Planet, 26 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. 
Schewe, Philip. "Why Are Death Valley's Rocks Moving Themselves?" Foxnews.com. FOX News Network, 18 Feb. 2011. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.

Links for further research:
National Geographic
Contains articles on the sailing stones and other geologic phenomena.

Youtube
Videos about the sailing stones can be watched here.

National Park Service
Information on Death Valley is available here.



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