..::*§§§##                                          ##§§§*::..
..::-*@###                                          ###@*-::..
...:*§§@##                                          ##@§§*:...
.:-*§@####                                          ####@§*-:.
.:-*§@####                                          ####@§*-:.
.:-*§@####             ................             ####@§*-:.
......:*@#             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.          ####@§*-:.
.:-*§@####                                          ####@§*-:.
.:-*§@####                                          ####@§*-:.
..:-----§#                                          #§-----:..
.....-**§#                                          #§**-.....
.:-*§@####                                          ####@§*-:.
.:-*§@####                                          ####@§*-:.