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...:==§@#¶             the alvar fields             ¶#@§==:...
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......=§## 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.             ##¶#@§†=:.
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.:=†§@#¶## here  is earth,  clay,  and  sturdy  low ##¶#@§†=:.
.:=†§@#¶## plants.  bushes  frame  the  strip.  the ##¶#@§†=:.
...::††§@¶ earth is  bare  in  patches as  large as ¶@§††::...
.:=†§@#¶##               you and me.                ##¶#@§†=:.
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....::††@¶ cross  it to  get to the ocean, or don't ¶@††::....
.:=†§@#¶##          to stay where you are.          ##¶#@§†=:.
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