Flickr/Photo by Washington State Department of Natural Resources. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

How did 'Mima' mounds form?

Hundreds of acres in southwest Washington state are dotted with mysterious mounds. For years, scientists have blamed burrowing gophers and termites for the formations, but a new theory suggests that it’s part of a natural process, LiveScience reports. As plants spread, their roots suck up surrounding water and nutrients and create low-lying regions that are depleted of resources. Raised mounds represent areas of fertile soil where roots gather together for sustenance.

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