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Alcatraz Island lies just 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, but for prisoners, it felt like an entirely different world. Surrounded by cold, rough waters and powerful currents, the island was believed to be escape-proof. The combination of natural barriers and strict security made Alcatraz one of the most secure prisons in American history. Even though San Francisco’s skyline was visible from the island, the vast stretch of water created a psychological torment for inmates—freedom felt so close, yet impossibly out of reach.
