How to drain out the entire Mediterranean?

So, the Mediterranean Empire has succeeded in separating the entire Mediterranean Sea from the rest of the world's oceans. See this question for background and premise. There are now dams making sure no other ocean will flow in.

Related Wikipedia article: Atlantropa.

The motive for doing this is to gain more land-area.

However, the Mediterranean is still full of seawater. How do we get it all out of there?

1. I've considered pumping all the water out into the Atlantic and/or Gulf of Suez with thousands of massive pumps. We have lots of nuclear power to power the pumps, or we could even fill the Sahara with solar power plants. We have immense resources and virtually unlimited political will. Could this work? I'd like to see some maths on pumping capacity, electricity requirements, time required, feasibility, et cetera.

2. How much will natural evaporation help us? This is a humongous project and it's alright to spend several years emptying the whole Mediterranean. Of course, the faster the better. However, if it really needs to take a century, then so be it.

3. Are there any other brilliant ways to get all the seawater out in years or decades?

4. What to do with all the rivers that flow into the Mediterranean, counteracting our work?
5. Are there any very serious challenges I haven't thought of?

No hand-waving allowed. We need scientifically sound explanations. Technology used should be 2016 level. But we should also consider that it's an incredibly resourceful empire which has committed itself considerably to this project and given it a quite high priority.

Please note that while this is indeed similar to Atlantropa, it is not identical to Atlantropa. For example, the Empire intends to drain the whole Mediterranean, not just parts.

Wikipedia suggests the volume of the Mediterranean is 3,750,000 km³.

posted over 7 years ago

Revetahw says Reinstate Monica‭

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