It is not an abyss but it is a passageway. A passageway to the other side and throwing trash into it could cause a lot of problems there. And I suspect that Nancy and the others were really annoyed by it. It is understandable that she crossed over because of it but why didn't others. I suspect that soon they will. And how can the people in the court house see her !?!?!? If they keep throwing trash in there, soon the others will cross and they will all enjoy the freedom that Nancy and Pete have now. Just imagine Thorfinn and. Issac in current New York and Alberta singing on Broadway!!! And the people of Woodstone and New York could come together into an HOUR of the best humorous entertainment ever documented on TV. WOW!! Talk about plot twists!!!