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