The Pacific Institute reported that China is the most dammed nation in the world, followed by the United States, India, Japan, Spain and Canada. Outside Magazine furthered the report, mentioning that 47,665 large dams exist in 140 countries and the weight of their water is so immense scientists believe it alters the speed of the earth’s rotation.  One-fifth of the world’s electricity is supplied by these structures along with the irrigation of one-sixth of the world’s food supply.  The downside is that 80 million people have been displaced by dams worldwide. Some believe that dams prevent fish migration and alter water flow and temperature. Over the years, more than 212 dams have been demolished. Due to the extensive flooding on the upper reaches of the Missouri and Mississippi, our levels here will also  rise.  Yesterday the reading in Baton Rouge was 30.4 feet, sliding up to 34.2 by next Tuesday. Here are some items posted from the National Weather Service Forecast Center’s Mississippi River Flood History.  In 1543 Hernando Desoto experienced a 40 day flood near what-is-now Memphis. In 1788 a land falling hurricane caused severe flooding which also marked the arrival of Acadian settlers at Fort Bute, Manchac and Baton Rouge. Another spring-flooding episode occurred in 1825, known as the last inundation of New Orleans on the lower Mississippi River. During the greatest flood in modern history on the lower sections of the river, Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover was propelled into the White House with legislation to control the river with flood control projects. One year later, construction on the Bonnet Carre Spillway began with a full capacity flow that would match the flow of Niagara Falls.