Mima Mounds

age

The mounds were formed approximately 15,000 years around the time of the last glacial retreat.

andesite

The volcanic rock, andesite, is heavily present in the mounds.

Charles Wilkes

The mounds were documented by Charles Wilkes in May 1841 during a global expedition. Wilkes speculated the mounds were burial sites of Native Americans, but after digging into a few of the features, no relics were found by his team.

geological feature in

glacial lake

The mounds, also described as hillocks, are situated on a plain of underlying cobble that is most likely a remnant of a glacial lake.

meaning of mima

The origins of the word, mima (MY-ma), has been reported to be unknown, though it may mean, “newness”, under the language of the Chehalis people.

note

This page represents the mounds found specifically in the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve.

outwash plain

The site [Mima Mounds NRCA] is located on an outwash plain of the Vashon Glacier.

prairie

The mounds were once part of a larger stretch of a prairie ecosystem encompassing approximately 180,000 acres (73,000 ha), spanning from present-day Joint Base Lewis–McChord through Chehalis and into Oakville.

Puget Lobe

Immediately north of Mima Mounds was the southern reach of the Puget Lobe.

random

Cowiche, Washington (Wikipedia) Cowiche (pronounced Cow-witch-ee) is a census-designated place and unincorporated community northwest of Yakima, Washington, near the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountain range, in central Washington State (US). Cowiche, sometimes spelled Cowychee, is said to mean “footbridge between the valley and the mountains.” According to the 2020 census, the town had a population of 535, which is an increase from 428 at 2010.

size

There are approximately 8-10 mounds per acre, measuring 1–7 feet (0.30–2.13 m) in height and having diameters 7–40 feet (2.1–12.2 m).

tags

geological feature

vantage point

Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve