¶¶¶@**†~-,                                          ,-~†**@¶¶¶
¶¶¶@**†~-,                                          ,-~†**@¶¶¶
#@*†--,,,,                                          ,,,,--†*@#
#@*†-,,,,,                                          ,,,,,-†*@#
@**†~,,,,,                                          ,,,,,~†**@
##¶@**†~-,             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             ,-~†**@¶##
@*~-,,,,,,             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.          ,-~†**@¶##
@**~-,,,,,                                          ,,,,,-~**@
#@@***†~-,                                          ,-~†***@@#
##¶@**†~-,                                          ,-~†**@¶##
#@@@**†~-,                                          ,-~†**@@@#
##¶@**†~-,                                          ,-~†**@¶##
##¶@**†~-,                                          ,-~†**@¶##