.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###             ................             ###&$%;«^.
....^^«%$&             the alvar fields             &$%«^^....
....«;;$$#             $$$##########$$$             #$$;;«....
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&### from  north   to   south,   thirty   odd ###&$%;«^.
....^;%$&# kilometers.  from  west  to  east,  four #&$%;^....
.^«;%$&### thousand meters. from  topsoil to stone, ###&$%;«^.
..^^;;;%&# a foot or two. no roots  can fester,  no #&%;;;^^..
.^«;%%$$&#             dust can linger.             #&$$%%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&&## here is  earth,  clay,  and  sturdy  low ##&&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&### plants.  bushes  frame  the  strip.  the ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&&&# earth is  bare  in  patches as  large as #&&&$%;«^.
.^«;%%$$##               you and me.                ##$$%%;«^.
...^^^;$&&                                          &&$;^^^...
.^«;;;$$## cross  it to  get to the ocean, or don't ##$$;;;«^.
.^«;%$&###          to stay where you are.          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
...^^«;%%&                                          &%%;«^^...
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.
.^«;%$&###                                          ###&$%;«^.