Why are crevasses a danger in Antarctica?

Answer 1

A crevasse, regardless of where it's located is a deep canyon of ice. Unless you fall onto a ledge, you'll fall to the deepest "V" in the crevasse.

Over time -- and not a very long time, you'll freeze to death because of being wedged between two ice forms. You are immobile and probably injured. If you land on a ledge and cannot climb out or are not rescued quickly, you'll also freeze to death.

In Antarctica, there is the added danger of not being rescued, because there are no stand-by search and rescue teams, no equipment on stand-by to retrieve a human from a crevasse.

Also in Antarctica, known crevasses are marked with black flags mounted on bamboo poles, to mark areas where humans should not tread.

Answer 2

Crevasses are a danger anywhere you find them. Why?

When you fall into a crevasse, your torso become wedged between two blocks of ice. When you breathe out, the warmth of your body melts a little of the ice and then when you exhale, your body slips further into the wedge.

Death soon follows.