@##*†*~^..                                          ..^~*†*##@
#@##*†*~^.                                          .^~*†*##@#
@##*†*~^..                                          ..^~*†*##@
##*†*~^...                                          ...^~*†*##
#*†*~^....                                          ....^~*†*#
*†*~^.....             ................             .....^~*†*
#*†*~^....             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.          .....^~*†*
#*†*~^....                                          ....^~*†*#
##*†*~^...                                          ...^~*†*##
@##*†*~^..                                          ..^~*†*##@
#@##*†*~^.                                          .^~*†*##@#
@##*†*~^..                                          ..^~*†*##@
##*†*~^...                                          ...^~*†*##