,,,,,,.~==                                          ==~.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.~=                                          =~.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.~==                                          ==~.,,,,,,
,,,,,.~==%                                          %==~.,,,,,
,,,,.~==%&                                          &%==~.,,,,
,,,.~==%&£             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             £&%==~.,,,
,,.~==%&£#             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.          £&%==~.,,,
,,,,.~==%&                                          &%==~.,,,,
,,,,,.~==%                                          %==~.,,,,,
,,,,,,.~==                                          ==~.,,,,,,
,,,,,,,.~=                                          =~.,,,,,,,
,,,,,,.~==                                          ==~.,,,,,,
,,,,,.~==%                                          %==~.,,,,,