Why is Alcatraz water so cold?
And that's the milder water because the Sun is working on warming it up the cold water that doesn't
Swimming from Alcatraz is one of the most famous, desirable, and enjoyable open water swims (wild swim) in the entire world. Despite lore that swimming from Alcatraz is dangerous, for experienced swimmers with proper support, swimming from Alcatraz can be safe and fun.
A common question on Alcatraz is, “Are there sharks?” Answer – Yes! Over a dozen species of sharks live in the San Francisco Bay. One of the most common is the Leopard Shark. Averaging about 5' in length, they prey upon crabs and other benthic creatures that live on the floor of the Bay.
With that said though, the water surrounding Alcatraz is on the deeper end of the scale, but still, it's just an average depth of 43 feet. The average depth at Aquatic Park where we swim every week? 3-6 feet (still deeper than under the San Mateo-Hayward bridge!).
The showers at Alcatraz were always supplied with moderately hot water, in order to hinder inmates from becoming acclimated to the freezing Bay waters. Personal items carried by the inmates were found floating in the Bay the following day. Also found was a life preserver with heavy teeth marks on the valve.
Odyssey Alcatraz swims are approximately 2 miles long and can take anywhere between 20 minutes to over an hour based on your level of experience and the conditions. Swimmers are encouraged to wear a wetsuit due to the low temperatures, which can range anywhere from the high 40's to 65 degrees.
The government cut all power to the island in May and a few weeks later, fires destroyed several of the historic buildings. Armed federal marshals removed the last of the residents in June, 1971.
Three men escaped from notorious Alcatraz Island penitentiary in 1962 and have never been apprehended.
Did anyone ever escape from Alcatraz? Only one man ever succeeded in swimming all the way to shore on Alcatraz: in 1962, John Paul Scott washed up on the rocks at Fort Point.
A typical supper menu included soup, a green salad or vegetable, starches [bread or rolls, and potatoes, rice, or pasta], a meat entree, and dessert [pie, cake, or ice cream].
Who was the last person in Alcatraz?
| Clarence Victor Carnes | |
|---|---|
| Carnes in his prison cell | |
| Born | January 14, 1927 Daisy, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | October 3, 1988 (aged 61) MCFP Springfield, Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
| Other names | The Choctaw Kid |
White sharks seasonally visit the Farallon Islands, about 30 miles west of the Golden Gate, to prey on elephant seals. They're also encountered occasionally along the coast in both directions of San Francisco Bay, usually close to seal rookeries. Some also have been spotted inside the bay.
Swimming From Alcatraz to San Francisco 48 Times - YouTube
As Alcatraz had no water supply of its own, it had to import it from the mainland, brought by tug and barge. During the island's military years, it was stored in ground tanks and cisterns situated on the roof of the citadel. The water tower was built in 1940–41 by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In 1972, the National Park Service purchased Alcatraz along with Fort Mason from the U.S. Army to establish the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Under "An Act to Establish the Golden Gate National Recreation Area" President Richard Nixon allocated $120 million for land acquisition and development of the area.
Frank Lucas Bolt. Little has been documented about Alcatraz's LGBTQ+ prisoners, but gay men did play a role in the infamous prison. In fact, it was a queer man, Frank Lucas Bolt, who served as the prison's first official inmate.
prison closed in 1963, a year's pay for a correctional officer was a bit over $5,000. and the safe environment. Alcatraz was a neighborhood where residents felt safe, because they knew where all the criminals were--they were locked up behind bars.
Inmates were not the only people who lived on Alcatraz. Prison staff members, including the warden and other top administrators, correctional officers, medical providers, and clerks, resided with their families on the island. They lived in government-owned apartments, cottages, and houses.
Frank Morris, Clarence Anglin and his brother John Anglin escaped from the notorious penitentiary with a raft made of raincoats and left behind plaster dummies in their beds. In 1962, three inmates escaped from the notorious Alcatraz Island penitentiary and were never seen again.
Despite the odds, from 1934 until the prison was closed in 1963, 36 men tried 14 separate escapes. Nearly all were caught or didn't survive the attempt. The fate of three particular inmates, however, remains a mystery to this day.
What is Alcatraz used for now?
The island is currently no longer a prison, but instead a national landmark for tourists to visit. Another one of our Alcatraz island facts is that the infamous Alcatraz prison operated for less than 30 years, from 1934 – 1963.
There is no food service on Alcatraz City Cruises vessels or on Alcatraz Island - only water. There are drinking fountains located by both restrooms - at the dock and near the lighthouse, and bottled water is available in the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy book stores on the island.
Prison Guard Harold P. Stites was shot and killed (by friendly fire) during the rescue attempt while Prison Guard William A. Miller died of his injuries the following day in the cell. In addition to the deaths of those two, 14 other prison guards were wounded in the battle.
(Alcatraz opened as a national recreation area in 1973, a decade after it transferred its last inmate.) Fewer than 600 people can stay overnight each year.
Prison Closure
On March 21, 1963, USP Alcatraz closed after 29 years of operation. It did not close because of the disappearance of Morris and the Anglins (the decision to close the prison was made long before the three disappeared), but because the institution was too expensive to continue operating.
There were eight people murdered by inmates on Alcatraz. Five men committed suicide, and fifteen died from natural illnesses. The Island also boasted it's own morgue but no autopsies were performed there. All deceased inmates were brought back to the mainland and released to the San Francisco County Coroner.
We were among a group of 10 swimmers braving the swirling waters and strong currents of the San Francisco Bay on a one-and-a-half mile (2.4km) open-water swim from the notorious Alcatraz Island to the mainland.
Alcatraz Island, byname The Rock, rocky island in San Francisco Bay, California, U.S. The island occupies an area of 22 acres (9 hectares) and is located 1.5 miles (2 km) offshore.
Assuming any of them survived the currents in the San Francisco Bay while fleeing the Rock (and that they also survived the intervening 60 years), all the men would be into their 90s. And, if the age-progressed photos are anything to go by, looking pretty well.
The water along the coast of California is cold for a couple of reasons. First, the California Current brings cold water from Alaska southward along the coast. And second, cold water from the deep ocean comes up to the surface through a process called upwelling.
Is it colder on Alcatraz?
Keep in mind, that it might be an additional 10 to 15 degrees cooler on the ferry and/or inside the prison on Alcatraz.
Temperatures on Alcatraz Island seldom rise above 75°F (24°C) or fall below 38°F (3°C). It almost never snows on the Island, but winters can be wet and cold. Afternoon winds are common during every season.
The chill is in part a result of San Francisco's location between the ocean and the Central Valley, according to Diana Henderson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service Forecast Office for the San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey. To the west, the marine layer sits above the cold Pacific.
According to SF Bay Wildlife, 21 different species of sharks inhabit the Bay Area. Not all of them are as fierce as great whites – the brown catshark does not grow much longer than two feet.
San Francisco Bay is reputedly home to some of the world's most shark-infested waters. It sits in the middle of the so-called “red triangle” where around 40% of the country's great white shark attacks occur.
Aquatic Park, San Francisco
This gorgeous cove is one of the most treasured swimming spots on the bay. It is largely protected from wind and currents by an elliptical-shaped harbor frontage that creates a semi-enclosed swimming area abutting a sandy beach. No motorized boat traffic is permitted inside.
(Alcatraz opened as a national recreation area in 1973, a decade after it transferred its last inmate.) Fewer than 600 people can stay overnight each year.
The island is completely cut off from the mainland with no access to outside power lines. As a result, the National Park Service ferried up to 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel a week to Alcatraz to power its electric generators.
Public WiFi is available.
To allow ample time for screening, it is strongly recommend that you arrive at Alcatraz Landing at least 45 minutes prior to your departure time. Due to social distancing requirements in the Cellhouse, there may be a lengthy wait for the Cellhouse Audio Tour.
Is Alcatraz open during rain?
Alcatraz is open throughout the year. It is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Tickets start at $41 for adults for the day tour. They start at $48.40 for the night tour.
Alcatraz Island (/ˈælkəˌtræz/) is a small island in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, United States.
“The water temperature rarely goes above 65 degrees even in the warmest of months, so swimmers can train year-round in the bay. Even in the winter, the water temperature rarely goes or stays below 50 degrees, making this the ideal place to remain cold-water acclimated,” she says.
In some areas of San Francisco, the weather is cooler than others, so bring a light jacket if you're going. Because of the moderate weather during the day, you can wear shorts or skirts and loose tees and sandals. It's typically chilly at night during the year, but on some nights, the temperature may rise slightly.
Today's San Francisco sea temperature is 57 °F.