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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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