Subscribe Feed (RSS)Moving Rocks From Death Valley
July 25th, 2008 | Filed under Bizarre.
In Death Valley, California, there are some rocks that move on their own. From small ones to boulders, you can find them in the area, with trails that go straight, turn, make loops or zigzag. Not all of them move though, and for some time it was thought that magnetic forces were to blame.
Now, it is thought that the wind is the cause of their movement. When the water is enough to soak the flat clay and the temperature goes below freezing, very small ice crystals form under the rocks. These let the rocks slide slowly on them, if the wind is powerful enough. The result is a trail, as seen in the photos.
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we know the truth. its the damn UFOs and the stupid aliens in them. I found one yesterday and beat the carp out of him. They are not gonna bother me no more.
Maybe it’s like a snail and it leaves a trail.
You beat the carp out of them? So aliens DO like fish! I knew it!
Ah, but do they only like freshwater fish? Or are they fond of crustaceans too? The world needs to know, we must survey these aliens and learn of their piscatory dining habits!
Noooo… he beat the carp out of him because it was a carplike alien.
I beat the dog out of an alien I found in a backyard in Staines. He won’t be moving anymore rocks where he’s gone.
(in the river)
its a shadow of the predominant wind that causes the pattern behind the stone
Jackal; I have to inform you that you are wrong.
Nobody knows how they move and there are many theories…
http://sophia.smith.edu/~lfletche/deathvalley.html
“# jackal | 29/07/08
its a shadow of the predominant wind that causes the pattern behind the stone”
^Jerk.
# jackal | 29/07/08
its a shadow of the predominant wind that causes the pattern behind the stone”
then how does it squiggle?
when it very rains in the valley, which is very rare, the surface of the valley gets slick and the wind pushes the rocks
firstly, if it were wind the rocks would move in roughly the same direction, which it doesn’t, as shown in the picture. wind does not blow in all directions at once, unless you’re near a hurricane. if the stones were near a hurricane, it would have not made any trail at all. and also, i’ve seen those carpaliens. eyesore, they were. i beat the carp outta them too.
Definitely photoshopped…
It is a total government conspiracy. The military is now training rocks for a major invasion somewhere. I sure hope the UFO Hunters dig into this one - I am for certain is has something to do with Roswell - they’ll be able to tie it all together for sure.
Renshai:
“Definitely photoshopped…”
Yeah, I can tell by some of the pixels and from seeing a few shops in my time.
This is what I can dig up. When the lake bed has water in it the surface gets slippery due to a thin mud layer. Though no one has seen these rocks move people have tracked them w/ GPS. They consistently move with the predominant winds SW to NE. In fact the straightest trails are in the SE area of the lake bed where the surrounding mountains funnel the wind and make it stronger. Also supporting this theory is that smaller rocks leave less straight and go farther distances while the larger have straighter paths and don’t go as far. So the right winds and surface area moves the rocks. More here;
http://geology.wr.usgs.gov/parks/deva/ftrac2.html
I don’t buy it. I think some bored desert rats move them a few inches at a time… or alien tractor beams. Maybe it is just mother nature being odd. I have been to Gravity Hill in Greenfield, MA. Cars roll up hill. We checked it all; not magnets, optical illusions, bizarre extra gravity, it is just plan odd.
I just want a free body cavity search and aliens do them for FREE! Saves me a trip to the doctor.
why would anyone bother to photoshop trails in back of rocks?
…and if the wind changed directions slowly it could produce curved trails.
How neat. Whatever way they are caused the moving rock trail makes for great photos. That’s awesome that someone tried tracking rocks with GPS
I agree with Dave. Definately photoshopped. I’ve seen a few shops too, and you can clearly see that the shadows are all wrong.
It’s stupid really.
Why would rocks move on their own? Its just common sense!
Come on! At least post something that is believable!!
This “issue” has been around longer than photoshop
carp-a-diem
The photos are genuine. Ask any of the millions of people who have visited this area, called “The Racetrack,” in Death Valley. Jack and Rock On pretty have the explanation that seems best. (No one knows. No one has ever seen it happen. Not even one poor grad student who spent four years camped there.)
The ground is a playa, an old lakebed. In the sun, the surface is hard as concrete. Sometimes it rains. The top layer of the playa becomes very viscid. Research suggest that it takes a wind of about 90 mph to break a rock free of fiction. Once it does, a wind only half that strong will keep it going.
Look at the levees the rock makes and the divot in front. They suggest to me that rocks are sailing on wind over a thin layer of very viscous material.
Some rocks run straight. They will have protrusions underneath: little crags that act as a rudder. How can you tell? Well, usually rocks that are irregular on top are below as well. Also, look in the track of the rock. You can see the rudder’s trail.
Humans are not doing it, IMO. People who have stepped on the playa after a rain leave footprints, deep and perfectly cast. There are no footprints following the rocks.
A final note. Since this is in a National Park, there is a Park Service sign discussing the rocks. I love the last warning (which I can’t recall exactly) : “Do not remove rocks. Out of place they become essentially meaningless.” That has to be the most Zen sign ever erected by the Park Service.
BTW: This is not the only place in America where this happens. It is only the most famous.
The carpaliens from the planet carpalia did this. IT MAKES SENSE. They have a greater understanding of the three-d nature of the world, because they are fish. That’s the same reason why admiral ackbar, renownded fishlike alien, was the rebel’s space admiral, because he understood 3-d, because he was a fish.
So then for these guys, moving rocks around on a TWO-d surface is like them taking a vacation from their normally 3-d experience. They find the quaint flatness of our existence refreshing. Hence, the moving of the rocks, as a holiday for them.
(another example of the good guys “getting it” with 3-d, and the bad guys failing miserably, is the end space battle of “Star Trek II: The Wratch of Khan”)
Could be inverted carpal tunnels dragged by dying alien assault victims…
The phenomenon is real and a similar thing can be seen on the moon in photos taken by the NASA missions. There is no wind on the moon.
Not photoshopped at all. Go there and look at them. The wind idea, though, I dunno. They seem to move much too slow. But, still, maybe… hell, i don’t know.
You would be surprise by the awesome power of Mother Nature.
I’m rootin’ 4 the ’shopped option
it’s not photoshopped, it’s been done on paint. you can tell by the use of the spray can tool on the texture of the ground in the bottom left hand corner.
Why is that McDonald’s always has those McRib sandwich commercials featuring black men. Are they racial profiling? Why don’t they offer it with a slice of watermelon and call it the McNigg Meal?
I tell you what is more irritating than anything…every idiot that sees something they cannot understand, punks out with “photoshoped.” “I’ve seen a few shopped pics in my day…” Bullshit. These rocks were featured on the Discovery Channel and the History Channel in the past. The photos are real - deal with it. I suppose one of those pictures showing a straw being driven into the trunk of a tree during a tornado was “shopped” as well. Educate yourself before you open your mouth - you’ll have less chance of making a total turdbrick out of yourself. Morons.
whilst i tend to use heavy sarcasm to try and make my points by method of mild offense and alienation, roger has clearly cut to the chase here and said what any sensible person would be thinking.
all joking aside though, it’s clearly god moving these rocks.
SHUT UP ASSHOLES ITS ALIENS… or god thats a possibility
It has to be that when it rains the carpaliens may rise out of the cracked surface and awaken from their hibernation to move the rocks. One mustn’t forget the harealiens that crawl out of the ground to make crop circles. As for the reason of the straight, curved, and zigzag pattern, it is simply because each carpalien has their own particular style of rock pushing.
These rocks appear to be moving when closely examined. If you stare at one from close range you might witness a sudden budge. No sound is ever heard - these rocks never speak. The mud trail that is left behind is visible and entertaining. The dry valley that looks like a path to somewhere is notable and interesting. I wonder personally where does this path lead to, I mean the other end. Could it be that it is extremely long trail, originating all the way to the vagina of God.
HAS ANYONE LOOKED UNDER THE STONES YET. UNDER THE SUSPICIOUS ONES. THE ONES WITH TRACES OR PERHAPS THE ONE WITHOUT THEM TRACES. CANNOT RECALL THIS IS DONE. WHEN DID THIS BEGIN AND WHERE DOES THIS END. SUPPOSE JUST BRINGING THE STONES TO OTHER PLACES IS PROHIBITED… NOT? IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED MAKING THINGS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THESE ROCKS, TO SEE IF THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE VERTICALLY.
It’s not the wind or aliens or photoshoped. It’s the sonic boom that santa creates when delivering toys to good boys, like me.
Maybe it was the ‘alien’ relatives of that critter that washed up near Montauk. Look that one up, carp lovers everywhere. Look up ‘Montauk Monster’. Trippy. It’s like God was on acid.
They’re NOT rocks, they’re aliens… And that’s why you’re not to move them.
If you think this is photoshoped, you are dumb. I’ve been there personally and have MET THE ALIENS responsible. There are appx. 300 aliens per rock, which are actually rocks from Titan, one of Saturn’s moon’s. They plan on piling all the rocks in the world on one side, throwing off the balance of the earth and sending us into the sun! Luckily they are very slow aliens, and we wont have to worry for years.
PHOTOSHOPPED! This is completely photoshopped. I’ve never even heard of these rocks. You people will believe anything. Someone just photoshopped a picture of a rock. Obviously. Open your eyes people, can’t you tell that the rock shadows are all wrong? Not to mention, how the color of the rocks change so much? PHOTOSHOP!
“its a shadow of the predominant wind that causes the pattern behind the stone”
“then how does it squiggle?”
We all know that wind blows in a totally straight line.
the freezing water and wind thing does make sense, however these carp aliens ive been hearing so much about do seem to have more evidence supporting them as people have beaten the carp out of them. On the other hand, these photos have been photoshopped and then gone over in paint. look closer at the pixels! shadows are definately off….
(i like that some people don’t get the photoshopped joke yet, keeps it fresh, y’no)
dam hippies
But you see, guys, you’ve got it wrong. So wrong.
This is not photoshopped. This has nothing to do with aliens. Nothing to do with wind, gravity, aberrant physics, anything.
It’s (dare I say it) the sole work of Chuck Norris.
Wow, come on people, learn to read a little. These are NOT photoshopped. Been around for a long time and this isn’t the first time they’ve ever been discussed. Do a little research before you post your “facts” that way, you won’t look so stupid.
the carpaliens photoshopped pictures in they’re base then broadcasted them around the world. These images were picked up in dozens of peoples braces which then released them into the INTERNET. Unfortunatly the carpaliens base was shot down by the dogaliens in attempt to starve out the cataliens ( who feed solely on carpaliens). The base crashlanded in Roswell where the government found it.The government officials began arguing whether or not pictures were in fact photoshopped that the topic had to become classified.
If these pictures were photoshopped, then it must have been going round since the 80’s when Arthur C. Clarke’s series reported them in 1981. Was photoshop invented in the 80’s? and was it a conspiracy by some strange government of carp aliens to defraud o=people in the future?
Doubt it.
By the way, carp aliens are no match for them bulldog aliens. They trip you up, tear your clothes and dirty you with mud and then pee on you with the smell of alcohol so the local police do not believe you. Trust me, in my past life I was a bulldog alien.
the carps aren’t fighting the dogs…
To: The Wind Shadow Theorists esp conbrio
Wind shadows and light shadows are similar… they all start at the source of the shadow. In this case a rock. So, it is not possible for the trails behind these rocks to be, despite possible swirling winds to be anything but linear from the source. Think about it! If one was to stand in a room with a light source there is no way this persons’ shadow would ever bend in a L like angle no matter how you moved the light source. Flat floor of course and in this case flat lake bed.
I am with Adam “damn hippies.” Smoking dope leads to some creative activities.
BTW “Totally photoshopped” is an on going sarcastic comment ( I know most you know this but I am sick of reading those that don’t know this and try to argue against it) everywhere these days not to be taken seriously so don’t bother engaging… lol and enjoy.
As a representative of the Carp-alien species, I admit that we did in fact photoshop this picture circa 1950 (via the Carp-alien visual arts department.) We apologize for the hoax and any controversies that may have risen from these photographs.
We shall return to the peaceful and honest art of crop circles. BTW, NO ONE kicks the carp out of us (except Chuck Norris.)
With fondness,
The Carp-aliens
pretty sure i did that
Okay…I don’t want to be one of those guys….However, to everyone who has suggested “Photoshop” - how about you lazy morons get off of your asses and take a trip to Death Valley to see for yourself if this stuff exists? Or would the thought of losing all of your fat due to sweating too much be to hard to bear? Overall, its easy for someone to sit here and say “Photoshop!!!” when they could take initiative to take a trip and see the world…Not that if someone did that and came back with more pictures anyone of you idiots would believe that it COULD be real. Notice I capitalized “could” to make sure you retards know that I myself have not been to Death Valley to see if its true or not I’m just thinking that its possible that it could be real if you take into count the potential scientific facts that could be at play here.
you guys are hilarious!
I think it is the “carp aliens”. They are some evil SOBs.
i like turtles.
Allright, I got you all suckered. I did it and nobody’s figured it out yet. ha ha ha Keep guessing!
P.S. about those aliens full of carp, they use them for some weird decompression thing. No carp no decompression. Why else would they stop here?
I have to admit we did it. These pictures were taken on the same sound stage that we used for the lunar landing! The Carp Aliens were only advisors on this project.
Our main goal was to move rocks in the most remote place on your Earth. Goal #2… Meet Lindsay Lohan.
Love,
Alien #4
I stumbled onto this website and this has to be the best blog stream I have ever read.
To all of you….LOL!!! I say….because responsible I am….
Oh, for God’s sake, every time people see a photo of something they don’t know how to explain, they cry “Photoshopped!” I’ve seen these and similar photos for decades, long before there was Photoshop.
I don’t have a clue why those rocks are moving, or whether they’re even doing it, but it’s not Photoshop.
Excuse me… your Photoshop comment looks Photoshopped. I can tell from the pixels.
Proof positive it’s photo shopped. The Walmart and 7-11 are missing
It was definitely Ludo from Labyrinth.
Although them carpaliens are a good theory (pesky buggers).
You alien believers are just so full of hot air. This is easy to explain: it is all the fault of Exxon/Mobile and the record profits they have earned in the past 3 quarters. The rocks are attempting to run to their brokers in an effort to purchase more Exxon/Mobile stocks. This is a sign of the largest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind. But, I have a plan…and it involves these rocks and some old bras of Dolly Parton - if you think these rocks are moving now, wait until Dolly shows up in the desert, coaxing ‘em near to her heart!
That was the dumbest shit I’ve seen written on this page T. Slim.
Photoshopped
Haven’t you guys seen an ice cube do the exact same thing? Yeah, it’s melting, etc., etc.
I WISH it were UFOs or whatever. But it’s just science.
This is MOST DEFINITELY PHOTOSHOPPED! If you can’t tell just by looking at the pixels then you are a complete moran.
Rocks don’t move you idiots, besides the shadows are all wrong; I should know cause I’ve seen a few shops in my time.
My boyfriend agrees with me, and he’s a famous graphic artist so there you go morans!
I love how so many “morans” still don’t get the photoshop joke.
Also, it was the TROLLS
SHOPPED!!
The rocks move because the Earth is round, not square.
Maybe rocks just get bored, sitting there all day…
no one has actually seen them move.
also, if the wind pushed them then why do some big rocks move in loops, swirls and zigzags while others that are smaller dont move at all.
also, some will move in opposite directions.
its just plain creepy…
Nivekian,
You are wrong. I know how they move…
Very slowly.
The sad thing is that I was too lazy to read the article, but I spent 15 minutes reading the comments…you’re all crazy, haha-crazy…jeez
TL:DR
Okay, okay. I know this debate is a long and grueling exercise. But I’m sorry to say you were all incorrect. I in fact did this, yes I know it’s inconceivable but it was I Raptor Jesus. I did this only to confuse the scientists and baffle the graphic designers. My sincerest apologies.
PS. Thanks Chuck, couldn’t o’ done it without ya!
No. That makes to much sense. It must be aliens or perhaps the New World Order conspiracy.
photoshopped!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111 one
TOTALLY SHOPPED THERE WAS A SMALL CIRRUS CLOUD IN THE SKY THAT DAY BUT IN THE PIC THE SKY IS TOTALLY BLUE
LAMERZ I CANT BELIEVE U ALL FELL FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!111
Those “rocks” are Earth Explorers sent here by Martians to see if there is life on Earth. They don’t move very fast or very far because Martian engineers aren’t very smart.
If I told all of you non-spelling idiots what really causes it you wouldn’t believe me anyway, so I,ll just keep it to myself
badfuelman
You used the wrong punctuation so I don’t want to hear it.
To all of the alien/God’s out there, I believe you. All of you.
Chuck Norris and Raptor Jesus, you are my best buddies.
I like the person who said they move because the earth is round, not flat. That was the best comment because I couldn’t tell if it was serious or not. But it was beautiful.
Also, these rocks can totally kick your but, so watch out.
Any of you people that think this is caused by aliens are idiots
any way aliens have more self respect than moving rocks in death valley if an alien were to read your post they would probably rip your gut out while you sleeping and then knit them into a scarf or something
so ye I do believe in aliens put they’re not going to do that type of thing they’re to buy punishy non-believers
“SHUT UP ASSHOLES ITS ALIENS… or god thats a possibility” -dan
You Idiots! As the king of The Carp aliens, And the universe, i will inform you that are kind ARE GODS!!
“Carp-aliens rule | 9/08/08
As a representative of the Carp-alien species, I admit that we did in fact photoshop this picture circa 1950 (via the Carp-alien visual arts department.) We apologize for the hoax and any controversies that may have risen from these photographs.
We shall return to the peaceful and honest art of crop circles. BTW, NO ONE kicks the carp out of us (except Chuck Norris.)
With fondness,
The Carp-aliens”
LIAR- You will be punished- you only wish you where a carpalien!!!
With Respect to your puny race,
Carpalien King,
■æ▄·⌐♦♣♠♥○◘•◙☼►↕◄§▲▼
Oh Yes And to Awnser your question, we did not touch your stupid rocks, puny earthlings, we have plenty on our planet, why would we want yours!?!? It was actualy our rivals seagul-iens, watch out for those framing, menace, of an alien race!!!!
Hilarious! This is one of the best blog streams ever!
ROTFL
dude its called death valley for a legit reason…
ghosts.
obviously some confused ghost is trying to complete it’s life’s work, it must be lost. or just bored.
also we cannot rule out insect interference.
You fools, these rocks aren’t moving, something farmore sinister is afoot. Those are the telltale blast patterns of rocks that are FIRING THEIR LAZOR!!!1
Man, the Ghosts are working with the Carp Aliens.
a truly unholy alliance..there building something with all these rocks…
Jane the bane “these rocks can totally kick your but” but what? Did you not mean butt as in ass?
I can’t believe some of you idiots can’t see this is an obvious shop. It’s just plain from the pixels, if you’d seen more shops in your time, as I have, you’d know.
well speaking as an EARTH SCIENTIST, I have almost nothing to say on this matter.
aside from the fact that i find it difficult to believe.
The Rocks move because they can…
Dude, its simple………the carpaliens are trying to steal our rocks because they are cooler than theirs, its a well know fact that Earth has the coolest rocks in the universe. The only problem is our rocks are to heavy and they try to drag them onto their UFO’s but cant get them up the ramp…..hmmmm yea thats what it is!!!
Obviously they’re just snake tracks…
But I’m sure the carpaliens do visit your houses…
The rocks remain in one place, the world destorts around them. They are the only true constant. Its all relative.
… It is useless.. we Carp aliens move the earth.. the rocks stayed PUT…!!!
Dont you see.. EVERYTHING revolves under the rocks…
be aware of the revolving planet you are on..
My true name is backward…. visualize…
@zyxon
the earth’s banana shaped…
To: Dan Buyers - so, Dan…you have a boyfriend? No doubt you reside assup in San Francisco as well. Interesting.
All of you should know that in the year 5122 - these rocks will form the new Stonehendge right here in the good ol US of A. These events occur over 100s of years and we who are now seeing this are indeed lucky to see the beginnings of the New Stonehenge - and they will one day appear as wallpaper for the Microsoft Windows Carpaliens5125!
Fluffy didn’t you get the memo? In the year 3067 they rename windows to shutters, then in 4013 shutters will become doormat then in 5076 doormat will become covered patio. So it will be wallpaper for Microsoft Covered patio Carpaliens 5125.
Beside the Carp aliens are already working on taking over microsoft and there is talk of renaming it by the end of the year 2066 but nothing official yet.
Cant you see?! It is Chuck Norris poop traveling to seek revenge on his enemies.
its obvious that the carp aliens work for google and it is some sort of plan to send the citizens in to mass hysteria thus making it easier for google to take over microsoft in 2066 and take over the world.
The carp joke has pretty much run its course, don’t you think?
Take a step back, and reflect upon what you’re all doing…
You’re debating about moving rocks.
(I’m pretty sure there’s more pressing issues.)
All rocks lead nowhere. (They sneak there)