,&,,&&&&,&                                          ,,&,&&&,&,
&&,&,&&&,&                                          ,&&,,&&,&,
,&,&,,&&,&                                          ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&                                          ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,&                                          ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,&             the alvar fields             ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&             %%%#@#@#@#@#@%%%             ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,&                                          ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,& from   north  to   south,   thirty   odd ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,& kilometers.  from  west  to  east,  four ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,& thousand  meters. from topsoil to stone, ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,& a foot or two. no  roots  can fester, no ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&             dust can linger.             ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,&                                          ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,& here  is earth,  clay,  and  sturdy  low ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,& plants.  bushes  frame  the  strip.  the ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,& earth is  bare  in  patches as large  as ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,&                you and me.               ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&                                          ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,& cross it to get to the  ocean, or  don't ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&          to stay where you are.          ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,&                                          ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&                                          ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,&                                          ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&                                          ,&&,&,&,&,
,&,&,&,&,&                                          ,,&,&,&,&,
&&,&,&,&,&                                          ,&&,&,&,&,