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.:-;%£&¶##             the alvar fields             ##¶&£%;-:.
.:-;%£&¶##             £££##########£££             ##¶&£%;-:.
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.:-;%£&¶## 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 ##¶&£%;-:.
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.:-;%£¶### here  is  earth,  clay,  and  sturdy low ###¶£%;-:.
.:-;%£&¶## plants.  bushes  frame  the  strip.  the ##¶&£%;-:.
.:-;%£&¶## earth  is bare in patches  as  large  as ##¶&£%;-:.
.:-;%£&¶##               you and me.                ##¶&£%;-:.
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.:-;%£&¶## cross  it to get to the ocean,  or don't ##¶&£%;-:.
.:-;£&¶###          to stay where you are.          ###¶&£;-:.
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