.#...#.##.                                          #.#...#...
..#....###                                          ...#...#..
...#...#.#                                          ....#...#.
....#....#                                          #....#...#
#....#...#                                          .#....#...
.#....#...             ................             ..#....#..
..#....#..             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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