####&%/~,.                                          .,~/%&####
###&%/~,..                                          ..,~/%&###
##&%/~,...                                          ...,~/%&##
#&%/~,....                                          ....,~/%&#
##&%/~,...                                          ...,~/%&##
###&%/~,..             ................             ..,~/%&###
####&%/~,.             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.          ....,~/%&#
##&%/~,...                                          ...,~/%&##
###&%/~,..                                          ..,~/%&###
####&%/~,.                                          .,~/%&####
###&%/~,..                                          ..,~/%&###
##&%/~,...                                          ...,~/%&##
#&%/~,....                                          ....,~/%&#