Huge rocks scattered here and there in the dried-up lake. At first glance, it seems that they fell into the lake with a landslide from the nearby mountains. But that is not the reality. They all moved along a distance of about half a kilometer on their own.
This amazing phenomenon, which has puzzled even scientists, takes place in Death Valley National Park in the United States. The rocks move without the intervention of humans or other external forces. From small rocks to rocks weighing more than 300 kg, they move on their own.
These rocks move along the dry soil, leaving behind long trails. However, since no one can see them moving directly, the secret behind this phenomenon remained a mystery. Although some scientists believed that the rocks might be moving due to strong winds, no evidence was found to confirm this.
Finally, with the help of GPS systems, a group of scientists were able to unravel this mystery. The researchers placed GPS-equipped rocks in a dry lake and conducted observations. But for many years, this experiment did not yield any significant results. By December 2013, the GPS-equipped rocks began to slowly move. It was found that the rocks were moving in rows of 9 to 16 feet in the middle. The researchers were also able to capture the footage of this.
The ice sheets that form in the lake during the winter melt during the day due to the heat of the sun and turn into ice sheets that are only millimeters thick. If the wind blows before these completely melt and turn into water, these sheets will move. Along with this movement, the rocks near the ice sheets will also slide. As the heavy rocks move on their own, they will leave a mark on the ground. These rocks move only when the ice, moisture, sunlight, and wind all come together in the right way. The movement of ice sheets causes them to move either straight or sideways. Most of the rocks move for only a few moments over many years.
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