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(#45) Do Not Disturb Rocks
One of the most fascinating mysteries of Death Valley National Park is the sliding rocks at Racetrack Playa dry lake bed. These rocks can be found on the floor of the playa with long trails behind them scribed in the dried mud. The moving rocks are a geological phenomenon. Rocks ranging from a few ounces to several hundreds of pounds leave behind visible tracks as they slide across the playa surface without human or animal intervention. Racetrack stones only move once every two or three years and the track impressions last for three or four years.
Movement of large rocks across a barren surface is almost impossible to believe. In a study released in August, 2014, researchers observed rock movements using GPS and time-lapse photography. They documented rock movement on December 20, 2013 involving more than 60 rocks, with some rocks moving more than 700 feet (215 meters) between December 2013 and January 2014 in multiple move events. The rocks move when ice sheets just a few millimeters thick start to break up and melt during periods of light wind. These thin floating ice panels move the rocks up to 16 feet per minute (5 meters per minute).
If you visit Death Valley, the Racetrack is well worth the 30 mile drive down the bumpy road. The playa surface area is 2.70 square miles. The moving rocks are on the far south end and most are across the dry lake. It is approximately a mile wide making it an easy walk as you look for rocks with trails on the dry mud flat.... and do not disturb or relocate the rocks!
Watch this fascinating research team observing a rock moving across the icy wet playa: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyHcs7B27Zk
115Pictures in 2015-#45 - Do Not Disturb
Race Track at Death Valley
☆ Comments and Favorites are always appreciated. Enjoy
the photo but please do not copy or download © images.
Thank you!
(#45) Do Not Disturb Rocks
One of the most fascinating mysteries of Death Valley National Park is the sliding rocks at Racetrack Playa dry lake bed. These rocks can be found on the floor of the playa with long trails behind them scribed in the dried mud. The moving rocks are a geological phenomenon. Rocks ranging from a few ounces to several hundreds of pounds leave behind visible tracks as they slide across the playa surface without human or animal intervention. Racetrack stones only move once every two or three years and the track impressions last for three or four years.
Movement of large rocks across a barren surface is almost impossible to believe. In a study released in August, 2014, researchers observed rock movements using GPS and time-lapse photography. They documented rock movement on December 20, 2013 involving more than 60 rocks, with some rocks moving more than 700 feet (215 meters) between December 2013 and January 2014 in multiple move events. The rocks move when ice sheets just a few millimeters thick start to break up and melt during periods of light wind. These thin floating ice panels move the rocks up to 16 feet per minute (5 meters per minute).
If you visit Death Valley, the Racetrack is well worth the 30 mile drive down the bumpy road. The playa surface area is 2.70 square miles. The moving rocks are on the far south end and most are across the dry lake. It is approximately a mile wide making it an easy walk as you look for rocks with trails on the dry mud flat.... and do not disturb or relocate the rocks!
Watch this fascinating research team observing a rock moving across the icy wet playa: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyHcs7B27Zk
115Pictures in 2015-#45 - Do Not Disturb
Race Track at Death Valley
☆ Comments and Favorites are always appreciated. Enjoy
the photo but please do not copy or download © images.
Thank you!