.~=%$#@###                                          ###@#$%=~.
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...~=%$#@#                                          #@#$%=~...
....~=%$#@                                          @#$%=~....
.....~=%$#                                          #$%=~.....
......~=%$             ................             $%=~......
.......~=%             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.          ##@#$%=~..
.~=%$#@###                                          ###@#$%=~.
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.....~=%$#                                          #$%=~.....
......~=%$                                          $%=~......