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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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