.&&...&.&. ...&&..&..
.&&&...... ...&&&..&.
.&.&&..... ...&.&&..&
...&&&.... .....&&&..
...&.&&... .....&.&&.
.....&&&.. ................ .......&&&
&....&.&&. 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. ..&..&....
.&...&.... &..&..&...
..&...&... .&..&..&..
...&...&.. ..&..&..&.
....&...&. ...&..&..&
&....&...& ....&..&..
.&....&... .....&..&.