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Worldbuilding

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    $\begingroup$ I suspect the time needed to rinse the newly exposed surface of dissolved salts may be well outside what OP is hoping for as part of a colonization plan. $\endgroup$
    – rek
    Commented Jan 29, 2021 at 20:15
  • $\begingroup$ @rek not really. The draining of the oceans alone would take thousands of years, if Randal monroe is anything to go by (what-if.xkcd.com/53), and the timescale is already in the millions of years. I can wait a few million more for the salt to wash off. $\endgroup$
    – Globin347
    Commented Jan 29, 2021 at 20:35
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    $\begingroup$ I don't think it should take that long. Exposed rock would be cleansed almost instantly, but I've never read about any long delay even for the reclaimed lowlands of the Netherlands. On the other hand, some desert basins would never lose their salts, and become evaporite deposits just as on Earth. $\endgroup$
    – Mike Serfas
    Commented Jan 29, 2021 at 20:38
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    $\begingroup$ @Globin347 Your question says the portal with the animals etc opens immediately after the water drains. $\endgroup$
    – rek
    Commented Jan 29, 2021 at 20:54
  • $\begingroup$ @MikeSerfas With all respect to the Netherlands, we're talking about the sea floor here and areas the size of continents, and their reclaimed lands are part of a freshwater river system. $\endgroup$
    – rek
    Commented Jan 29, 2021 at 21:00