.....-;†%§                                          §%†;-.....
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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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.....-;†%§                                          §%†;-.....
....-;†%§@                                          @§%†;-....