§$§^»:....                                          ....:»^§$§
#§$§^»:...                                          ...:»^§$§#
##§$§^»:..                                          ..:»^§$§##
###§$§^»:.                                          .:»^§$§###
##§$§^»:..                                          ..:»^§$§##
#§$§^»:...             ................             ...:»^§$§#
§$§^»:....             the alvar fields             ....:»^§$§
$§^»:.....             $$$##########$$$             .....:»^§$
§^»:......                                          ......:»^§
^»:....... 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.                ......:»^§
$§^»:.....                                          .....:»^§$
§$§^»:.... cross  it to get  to the ocean, or don't ....:»^§$§
#§$§^»:...          to stay where you are.          ...:»^§$§#
##§$§^»:..                                          ..:»^§$§##
###§$§^»:.                                          .:»^§$§###
##§$§^»:..                                          ..:»^§$§##
#§$§^»:...                                          ...:»^§$§#
§$§^»:....                                          ....:»^§$§
$§^»:.....                                          .....:»^§$