Drain Alcatraz: The World's Most Notorious Prison (Full Episode) | Drain the Oceans SPECIAL

Summary by Krater

Computer graphics drain San Francisco Bay to reveal the underwater geology, ocean currents, and shipwreck sites around Alcatraz Island, investigating the mysteries of infamous prisoner escape attempts.

From the video

Answers: How did underwater geology and currents affect prison escapes from Alcatraz?

• Alcatraz escape attempts
• San Francisco Bay bathymetry
• Tidal currents in San Francisco Bay
• Golden Gate strait underwater geology
• Multi-beam sonar seafloor mapping
• Shipwrecks in San Francisco Bay

What it concludes

• High-resolution sonar scans and computer graphics reveal the underwater topography and powerful currents of San Francisco Bay that made escaping Alcatraz extremely dangerous.
• FBI documents and physical evidence suggest that escapees from Alcatraz, including the 1962 escapees, were likely swept out to sea and drowned by powerful, unpredictable tidal currents.
• The 1888 collision between the City of Chester and the Oceanic was caused by strong eddies and subsurface flows created by underwater geology near the Golden Gate.
• Buoy tracking tests confirm that strong currents and eddies in San Francisco Bay can sweep swimmers and objects toward the open ocean or push them back toward the shore unpredictably.