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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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