Dams around the world hold so much water they've shifted Earth's poles, new research shows

The construction of thousands of dams since 1835 has caused Earth's poles to wobble, according to new research. Scientists found that large dams redistribute mass globally, shifting the crust and causing polar wander. The study of 6,862 dams built between 1835 and 2011 revealed they caused the poles to move 3.7 feet. This water redistribution also impacts sea levels, suggesting dams should be considered in sea level rise projections.