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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.             &.&.&.&...
.&...&.&&&                                          &&&&&&&..&
&&..&&&..& 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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&.&.&&....                                          ...&..&&&.
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