....~\*$##                                          ##$*\~....
...~\*$###                                          ###$*\~...
..~\*$####                                          ####$*\~..
...~\*$###                                          ###$*\~...
....~\*$##                                          ##$*\~....
.....~\*$#             ................             #$*\~.....
......~\*$             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.          #$*\~.....
......~\*$                                          $*\~......
.......~\*                                          *\~.......
........~\                                          \~........
.........~                                          ~.........
..........                                          ..........
.........~                                          ~.........