National Geographic
Drain the Oceans - Drain Alcatraz: The World's Most Notorious Prison
Disney+

Alcatraz Island, home to a notorious federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963, is known as one of the most infamous prisons in history. Despite its reputation as an "escape-proof" facility, three inmates - Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin - managed to break out on June 11, 1962, in what became one of the most famous prison escapes in history. The waters surrounding Alcatraz posed a formidable challenge to any would-be escapees. The bay is known for its powerful currents, frigid temperatures, and dense fog, which can quickly lead to hypothermia and disorientation. Draining the bay reveals the underwater landscape that shaped these deadly conditions, including a deep gorge under the Golden Gate Bridge that funnels water at a rate 160 times greater than Niagara Falls. Even if the escapees managed to survive the treacherous currents, they faced another deadly threat - the great white sharks that inhabit the waters outside the bay. This area, known as the "red triangle," is a popular hunting ground for these massive predators. Despite the daring escape, it is unlikely the three inmates could have survived the conditions in San Francisco Bay. The FBI concluded they likely drowned, and the case was closed in 1979. However, some believe the men may have made it to shore, with reported sightings and messages from the escapees over the years. Ultimately, the geography of San Francisco Bay, with its powerful currents, cold waters, and deadly predators, made Alcatraz an inescapable prison. The island's reputation as an impenetrable fortress was cemented by the very forces of nature that surrounded it. And ironically, in the event of a major earthquake, Alcatraz's sturdy rock construction would make it one of the safest places to be in the Bay Area.