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