,.........                                          .........,
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
,.........                                          .........,
\,........             ................             ........,\
*\,.......             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.          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
,.........                                          .........,
\,........                                          ........,\
*\,.......                                          .......,\*
%*\,......                                          ......,\*%