Alcatraz Swim
Crossing from the island prison to San Francisco shore, about 2 km of cold current
Overview
Swimmers have crossed from Alcatraz to the mainland since long before the prison closed in 1963, with organized crossings regular since the 1960s. Water of 11 to 14 degrees, shipping traffic and shifting tide make timing critical. The Escape from Alcatraz triathlon, run since the early 1980s, opens with this swim each year.
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