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