.....^-:=$ $=:-^.....
....^-:=$@ @$=:-^....
...^-:=$@¶ ¶@$=:-^...
..^-:=$@¶# #¶@$=:-^..
.^-:=$@¶## ##¶@$=:-^.
..^-:=$@¶# ................ #¶@$=:-^..
...^-:=$@¶ 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. #¶@$=:-^..
.^-:=$@¶## ##¶@$=:-^.
..^-:=$@¶# #¶@$=:-^..
...^-:=$@¶ ¶@$=:-^...
....^-:=$@ @$=:-^....
.....^-:=$ $=:-^.....
......^-:= =:-^......