.#.###.#..                                          #...#.#..#
####..###.                                          ##..####.#
....#.#..#                                          ..#.#...##
#...####.#                                          #.####..#.
##..#...##                                          ###...#.##
..#.##..#.             ................             #..#..###.
..###.#.##             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.          #.###.##.#
...##..##.                                          ###..##.##
#..#.#.#.#                                          #..#.#.##.
##.#######                                          ##.#####.#
..##......                                          ..##....##
#.#.#.....                                          #.#.#...#.
######....                                          .#####..##