.......... ###.......
########## ##..######
#########. #....#####
########.. ..##..####
#######..# #......###
######.... ................ ..####..##
#####..### 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. .....#####
.####..... ####..###.
..##..#### .##....#..
#......##. ....##...#
..####.... ###....#..
#..##..### ##..##...#
........## #......#..