§§§%%/«,,,                                          ,,,«/%%§§§
@#§%///«.,                                          ,.«///%§#@
##@§%%/«.,                                          ,.«/%%§@##
§§§%/..,,,                                          ,,,../%§§§
#@#§%%/«.,                                          ,.«/%%§#@#
#%%%%«...,             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             ,...«%%%%#
#@#§%%/«.,             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.          .«/%%§#@##
§%//«.,,,,                                          ,,,,.«//%§
§%%%%%/«.,                                          ,.«/%%%%%§
§§§%%%/«.,                                          ,.«/%%%§§§
@#§§%%/«.,                                          ,.«/%%§§#@
###§%%/«.,                                          ,.«/%%§###
@#§%%%/«.,                                          ,.«/%%%§#@