#@#*%:~...                                          ...~:%*#@#
##@#*%:~..                                          ..~:%*#@##
#@#*%:~...                                          ...~:%*#@#
@#*%:~....                                          ....~:%*#@
#@#*%:~...                                          ...~:%*#@#
##@#*%:~..             ................             ..~:%*#@##
#@#*%:~...             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.          ..~:%*#@##
#@#*%:~...                                          ...~:%*#@#
@#*%:~....                                          ....~:%*#@
#@#*%:~...                                          ...~:%*#@#
##@#*%:~..                                          ..~:%*#@##
#@#*%:~...                                          ...~:%*#@#
@#*%:~....                                          ....~:%*#@