,,-*%&§###                                          ###§&%*-,,
,,,-*%&§##                                          ##§&%*-,,,
,,-*%&§###                                          ###§&%*-,,
,,,-*%&§##                                          ##§&%*-,,,
,,-*%&§###                                          ###§&%*-,,
,,,-*%&§##             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             ##§&%*-,,,
,,-*%&§###             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.          ##§&%*-,,,
,,-*%&§###                                          ###§&%*-,,
,,,-*%&§##                                          ##§&%*-,,,
,,-*%&§###                                          ###§&%*-,,
,,,-*%&§##                                          ##§&%*-,,,
,,-*%&§###                                          ###§&%*-,,
,,,-*%&§##                                          ##§&%*-,,,