###.#...##                                          ...#....#.
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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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