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