&....&...& ....&&....
..&&...&.. &&&....&&.
&....&...& &&..&&....
..&&...&.. .......&&.
&....&...& &&&&&&....
..&&...&.. ................ &&&&&..&&.
&....&...& 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. ...&&..&&&
.&&&&..... &&......&.
..&&..&&&& &..&&&&...
&......&&. ....&&..&&
..&&&&.... &&&......&
...&&..&&& &&..&&&&..
&&......&& &....&&..&