Rocks on the move Aug 27, 2020

Rocks on the move

No, that stone in today"s homepage image didn"t get there by itself. Or did it? Not only is Death Valley one of the hottest places on Earth, it also boasts a mysterious geologic phenomenon—rocks that drift across the exceptionally flat desert floor, seemingly under their own power. The rocks here at Death Valley"s Racetrack Playa are known as "sailing stones" and they can vary in size from a few ounces to hundreds of pounds. As seen in our image, the stones leave long trails behind them as they move across the scenic dry lakebed.

© Patrick Walsh/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Aug 27, 2018Tennis in the park
Aug 27, 2019Remembering Krakatoa
Aug 27, 2021Yabba-Dabba-Doo!
Aug 27, 2022Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Aug 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
Aug 27, 2024Young black caiman, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Aug 27, 2025World Lake Day in the Faroe Islands

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 20, 2025Spring equinox
May 15, 2022Lunar eclipse
Mar 19, 2019The smoke before the bonfire
Dec 16, 2020Beethoven s 250th
Jun 17, 2021Just another day in paradise
Jan 22, 2021Cold? What cold?
Mar 21, 2018Celebrating the International Day of Forests
Nov 13, 2019Big-wave hunters watch Nazaré
Jan 7, 2020Jupiter and the Galilean moons
Jun 6, 2021On this shore, history was made
Sep 22, 2021What s cuter than nuzzling rhinos?
May 29, 2018The first ascent
Jan 17, 2025Brown pelican, San Diego, California
Jan 3, 2024J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Sep 2, 2020A rock in a wild place
Jul 13, 2021Through an artist s eyes
Jan 17, 2019A wassailing we go
Dec 22, 2018Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
Nov 7, 2021Mack Arch Rock
Apr 15, 2020Art and soul
Apr 15, 2023World Art Day
Sep 17, 2023Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
Aug 4, 2021A special day for a special cat
Jul 31, 2018Honoring the rangers on World Ranger Day
Jun 16, 2018Drop in on International Surfing Day
Jun 9, 2021Ring of fire
Jun 19, 2022Father s Day
Aug 29, 2018A spectacle unlike any other
Jun 27, 2020Looking for peace on the precipice
Sep 20, 2023Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland