@**=~,....                                          ....,~=**@
¶@**=~,...                                          ...,~=**@¶
#¶@**=~,..                                          ..,~=**@¶#
##¶@**=~,.                                          .,~=**@¶##
#¶@**=~,..                                          ..,~=**@¶#
¶@**=~,...             ................             ...,~=**@¶
@**=~,....             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.          ...,~=**@¶
#¶@**=~,..                                          ..,~=**@¶#
##¶@**=~,.                                          .,~=**@¶##
#¶@**=~,..                                          ..,~=**@¶#
¶@**=~,...                                          ...,~=**@¶
@**=~,....                                          ....,~=**@
**=~,.....                                          .....,~=**