.,=†*%@###                                          ###@%*†=,.
.,=†*%@@@#                                          #@@@%*†=,.
.,=†*%@###                                          ###@%*†=,.
.,=†*%####                                          ####%*†=,.
...=††*@##                                          ##@*††=...
.,=†*%@###             ................             ###@%*†=,.
.,=†*%@###             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.          ##@%**†=,.
.,=†*%@@##                                          ##@@%*†=,.
.,=†**%@@@                                          @@@%**†=,.
.,=†*%####                                          ####%*†=,.
.,=†*%@###                                          ###@%*†=,.
.,=†*%@###                                          ###@%*†=,.
.,=†*%@@@@                                          @@@@%*†=,.