§§*==~....                                          ....~==*§§
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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.          ......=**§
##§*=~....                                          ....~=*§##
##§*=~....                                          ....~=*§##
####**==~.                                          .~==**####
##**====~.                                          .~====**##
###§**==~.                                          .~==**§###
###§**==~.                                          .~==**§###