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