@%=:,,,,,,                                          ,,,,,,:=%@
###@$%†=:,                                          ,:=†%$@###
##@$$%†=:,                                          ,:=†%$$@##
@%=,,,,,,,                                          ,,,,,,,=%@
##$$††:,,,                                          ,,,:††$$##
#$†::,,,,,             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             ,,,,,::†$#
#@@%†::,,,             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 ,:=†%$@###
@$$%††==:,          to stay where you are.          ,:==††%$$@
##$†:,,,,,                                          ,,,,,:†$##
###@$%†=:,                                          ,:=†%$@###
@$†=,,,,,,                                          ,,,,,,=†$@
####@%†=:,                                          ,:=†%@####
#$%=,,,,,,                                          ,,,,,,=%$#
####$%†=:,                                          ,:=†%$####