The Gap?

The gap described in The Road give the reader an idea about what type of disaster brought the world to an end.  When the two main characters, the man and boy, come across obstacles  they describe either as grey or on fire. The gap is described a a landmark that the to characters are aware of on the way down to the south. On page 52 the man is quoted saying "we will approach the gap soon...".  The way the gap is described is as a fire pit in the ground. This gives the reader an incite on what kind of disaster destroyed the world. The assumption is that a virus wiped out the population as for when they encountered the "grey dead man" quoted by the man in start of their migration.  But the gap gives the reader an idea of a natural disaster or warfare of grand proportions.  The land around the area of the gap is scorched as read on page 51.  The world seems to be scorched and in a state a post anarchy. Although the author of the book wrote this as a story for his son and himself (Oprah Winfrey show), the description of post anarchy and fire must have a hidden theme.  Evidence provided by the gap alludes to mass destruction, while the gap is a vague part of this story it can help understand what type a event affected the world.