A remote playa in the Death Valley National Monument is a host to a mystery that puzzled generations - rocks powered by an unknown force leave trails in dried mud but are never seen to move. The mystery has been resolved by scientists not even a decade ago. The rocks move when the playa is covered with water, frozen, and an ice sheet forms around the rocks. The hydraulic force of additional water lifts them up and the winds push them around. This image tells the story of two such rocks. Their paths crossed as the ice sheet around one of them bumped into the other rock / ice sheet (the cusp seen in the picture). It must have been nice to finally have company!
tagged: death valley race track playa magic rocks moving desert mystery sunset
