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NatureSurprise 4/5Difficulty 4/5Reviewed on September 13, 2026

The rocks that move by themselves in Death Valley are pushed by the wind.

Why it is true

At Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, rocks slide over the clay surface. The mystery was solved in 2014: when it rains, a thin layer of ice forms at night. The ice breaks and, with the breeze, pushes the rocks over the soft mud, leaving tracks.

Source: USGS

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