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How did Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay get its name?

Question #149961. Asked by psnz.
Last updated Oct 16 2023.
Originally posted Oct 16 2023 7:59 PM.

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BigTriviaDawg star
Answer has 2 votes
BigTriviaDawg star
7 year member
1007 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.
It probably means pelican or strange bird.
The name Alcatraz is derived from the Spanish "Alcatraces." In 1775, the Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala was the first to sail into what is now known as San Francisco Bay - his expedition mapped the bay and named one of the three islands Alcatraces. Over time, the name was Anglicized to Alcatraz. While the exact meaning is still debated, Alcatraz is usually defined as meaning "pelican" or "strange bird."

link https://www.bop.gov/about/history/alcatraz.jsp

Oct 16 2023, 8:02 PM
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