Alcatraz Island is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay in California. It was formerly used as a military stockade and later as a maximum security prison. Today, the island is a historic site supervised by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is open to tours. Visitors can reach the island by ferry ride from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. It is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

It was first discovered by Juan de Ayala and its name comes from the Spanish (and originally Arabic) word for the pelican. An English version of alcatraz was used to name the albatross.

It is home to the now abandoned prison, the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, and natural features such as rock pools, a seabird colony (mostly gulls, cormorants, gannetts and pelicans) and unique views of the coastline. As well, it is the starting point of an annual triathlon.

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