Little Alcatraz, Rock formation in San Francisco Bay, US.
Little Alcatraz is a rock formation in San Francisco Bay, sitting close to the northwest shore of Alcatraz Island. The rocks go completely underwater when the tide rises and partially reappear when it falls, making them visible only at certain times of day.
The formation got its name after the steamship Paul Pry ran aground on the rocks in 1862, with around 150 passengers on board. The incident drew attention to the hazard and gave the spot its lasting name.
The rocks serve as a resting spot for Brandt's cormorants, which settle on the surface at low tide and can be seen clearly from passing boats. They use the formation throughout the year, making it a small but active wildlife spot in the middle of the bay.
Anyone traveling by boat near Alcatraz Island should check tide conditions before heading out, since the rocks can be fully submerged and hard to spot at high tide. The area is easier and safer to navigate when the tide is low and the formation is at least partially visible.
In 1962, a prisoner attempting to escape from the nearby prison was found stranded on these rocks, unable to go further. The spot, small enough to go unnoticed from a distance, thus became part of one of the most discussed escape attempts in the prison's history.
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