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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.             ##¶§&*=«,.
.,«=*&§¶##                                          ##¶§&*=«,.
.,«=*§¶### 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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