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.,«:%*##@#             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.             #%:«......
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.,«:%*#### HERE  IS  EARTH,  CLAY,  AND STURDY  LOW ####*%:«,.
.,«:%*##@# PLANTS.  BUSHES  FRAME  THE  STRIP.  THE #@##*%:«,.
...,«%%%#@ EARTH IS  BARE  IN  PATCHES AS LARGE  AS @#%%%«,...
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......,:%# CROSS IT  TO GET TO THE  OCEAN, OR DON'T #%:,......
.,«:%*##@#          TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE.          #@##*%:«,.
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