##¶@%:«~,,                                          ,,~«:%@¶##
#¶@%:«~,,,                                          ,,,~«:%@¶#
##¶@%:«~,,                                          ,,~«:%@¶##
###¶@%:«~,                                          ,~«:%@¶###
##¶@%:«~,,                                          ,,~«:%@¶##
#¶@%:«~,,,             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             ,,,~«:%@¶#
##¶@%:«~,,             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.          ,,,~«:%@¶#
##¶@%:«~,,                                          ,,~«:%@¶##
###¶@%:«~,                                          ,~«:%@¶###
##¶@%:«~,,                                          ,,~«:%@¶##
#¶@%:«~,,,                                          ,,,~«:%@¶#
##¶@%:«~,,                                          ,,~«:%@¶##
###¶@%:«~,                                          ,~«:%@¶###