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