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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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