.&..&.&&.. ..&&.&&&..
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.&.&&..&&& ..&&&.&.&&
&&&&.&.&.. ..&..&&&&.
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.&..&....& ................ ..&.&&&..&
&&&.&&...& 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. .&&&&..&&&
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&....&&.&& ....&..&&&