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Abigrocksticksupoutofthemud.It'stooheavytopickup.Yet,ithasmysteriouslymoved.Atrailshowswhereitmovedacrossthe dirt.
ManyofthebigrocksinthispartofDeathValleyinNorthAmericahavemoved.How?Noonehaseverseenit.It’sa mystery.
Bouldersmysteriouslyzigand zaginDeathValley,California, U.S.A.
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_april_2021/nature_s_mysteries_4/1121999/NGX0514_PF_23_qch.640_0_1.jpg)
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_april_2021/nature_s_mysteries_4/1122004/globe_america.256_0_1.png)
North
America
Death
Valley
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_april_2021/nature_s_mysteries_4/1122000/shutterstock_372919741.480_0_1.jpg)
Amantakesaphotographofbouldersandtheir trails.
Searching
foraCause
Peoplehavewonderedaboutthebigrocks.Somepeoplethinktherocksaremagical.Othersthinktherocksweremovedbypeopleplayingaprank.Scientistswantedabetter answer.
Maybetherockswereslidingdownhill?No.Theserocksactuallymoveduphill.Maybetherockswerepushedbywinds?Nowindseemedstrong enough.
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_april_2021/nature_s_mysteries_4/1122006/.shutterstock_1057949563.mp4.640_0_1.jpg)
Thisvideofollowsthetrailmadebyaheavy stone.
ColdClue
One scientistrealizedanimportantfact.Therocksonlymovedinwinter.Duringwinter,thisplacefloods.Thewaterfreezes.Itformsice.Asmallwindmightbeenoughtopushtherocksacross ice.
Noonehasseentherocksmove.So,noonecanbesurehowtheydoit.Thismysteryis unsolved!
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_april_2021/nature_s_mysteries_4/1122001/CIMG1652.480_0_1.jpg)
ScientistRalphLorenzthinksiceandwindmaymovethe rocks.