Ada Ciganlija

Ada Ciganlija or colloquially just Ada (Serbian Cyrillic "Ада Циганлија", pronounced|'ada t͡siga'nlija) is a river island, artificially turned into a peninsula, in the Sava River's course through central Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is also colloquially used name for the adjoining artificial Sava Lake and its beach. Located close to the city's downtown, in the past few decades it was turned from an inaccessible marsh notorious as a place where official executions were held, into the immensely popular multifunctional recreational zone of Belgrade, most notable for its beaches and sport facilities, which during summer seasons have over 100,000 visitors daily Sr icon Cite web |url= http://www.politika.co.yu/rubrike/Beograd/Sto-hiljada-Beogradjana-na-Vodenom-cvetu.lt.html | title= Sto hiljada sugrađana na Vodenom cvetu "100.000 fellow citizens on Water flower"|date=2008-07-14 |author=Lj.Perović |accessdate=2008-08-17 |work= [http://www.politika.co.yu Politika] ] and up to 300,000 visitors over the weekend. Sr icon Cite web |url=http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=1834
title= Ada Ciganlija Island |date=2007-10-22 |author= |accessdate=2008-08-17 |work= [http://www.beograd.rs City of Belgrade] ] Sr icon Cite web |url= http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu/s_tereni/kupaliste.jsp| title= Kupalište "Bathing place" |date= |author= |accessdate=2008-08-17 |work= [http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu Ada Ciganlija] ] Because of the popularity, for years Ada Ciganlija has been commonly nicknamed "Belgrade Sea", which was officially accepted as an advertising slogan in 2008, using word game because when written in Serbian, Belgrade Sea contains word "ada" in it, so the slogan is written "More BeogrADA".

Location

Ada Ciganlija is located at the 4th kilometer of the Sava and entirely belongs to Belgrade's municipality of Čukarica. It's northern tip begins roughly across the ending section of the urban neighborhood of Senjak on the right bank of the river, continuing into the neighborhoods of Čukarica and Makiš. On the left, Novi Beograd's bank of the river, Ada is overlooked by another island turned peninsula, Mala Ciganlija ("little Ciganlija") and urban neighborhoods of Savski Nasip (individual residential blocks of 69, 68 and 58), Blokovi (70a, 70, 44 and 45) and Dr Ivan Ribar (71). On the central-north, halfway between Ada Ciganlija and Blokovi neighborhood, is a much smaller island of Ada Međica. [ cite book |author= |year=2006 |title=Beograd-plan grada |publisher=M@gic M@p|location=Smedrevska Palanka|isbn=86-83501-53-1|language=Serbian] cite book |author=Tamara Marinković-Radošević |year=2007 |title=Beograd-plan i vodič |publisher=Geokarta |location=Belgrade|isbn=978-86-459-0297-2|language=Serbian]

Geography

Though it is connected to the right bank of the Sava by three full road-dams which geographically turned it into a peninsula, Ada Ciganlija is almost unanimously still considered to be an island by the residents of Belgrade. Ada is elongated, stretching for 6 kilometers in the southwest-northest direction, being 700 meters at its widest and covering and area of 2.7 square kilometers. [Sr iconCite web |url=http://www.cukarica.org.yu/istorijat.htm| title= Čukarica-nekad i sad "Čukarica-before and now"|year= 2002|author= Nebojša Dragosavac|accessdate=2008-08-17 |work http://www.cukarica.org.yu Čukarica municipality] ] . The entire Ada Ciganlija ecological complex, which stretches into the municipality of Novi Beograd, covers an area of 8 square kilometers , including islands of Ada Ciganlija and Ada Međica, water areas between two Adas and between Ada Ciganlija and Makiš (Sava Lake) and adjoining Makiš section. The Sava branch which separates it from the rest of Čukarica is for the most part turned into the artificial Sava Lake with two dams, while the remaining section on the northeast is turned into Sava's Čukarica Bay. Apart from Sava Lake, there is another small lake on Ada Ciganlija itself, Ada Safari.

Sava Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Sava Lake (Савско језеро)
image_lake = BG AdaCiganlija11 Feb1 2004.jpg
caption_lake = Sava Lake in wintertime
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Belgrade, Serbia
coords = 44°47'21" N, 20°24'8" E
type = artificial
inflow = Sava
outflow = Sava
catchment =
basin_countries = Serbia
length = convert|4.2|km|mi|abbr=on
width = convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on
area = convert|0.8|km2|sqmi|abbr=on
depth = convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on
max-depth = convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time =
shore = convert|9|km|mi|abbr=on
elevation = convert|78|m|ft|abbr=on
islands = none
cities = Belgrade

Sava Lake, usually also referred to as Ada, was created from the right arm of the Sava with building of two dams near the northern and southern tip of the island in 1967. The lake is 4.2 kilometers long, has an average width of 200 meters and is 4 to 6 meters deep. It covers and area of 0.8 square kilometers and being on the altitude of 78 meters above sea level, it is one of the lower sections of Belgrade. 7 kilometers of its shores are turned into a gravel beach on both sides (island side is called the Ada side while the opposite one is Makiš side). The water regularly reaches 24 Celsius during summer.

Both dams are created to allow water flowing through tubes and pumps. This way, the main body of the lake is connected to the smaller body of water on the southwest, which is in turn separated from the river by the third dam. This mini, "buffer" lake called "Taložnik" ("depository") is used as a purifier for the waters of the both Sava Lake and city waterworks which also uses this water. Filtered water is constantly being pumped into the lake while on the northeast the water has been pumped by the electrically powered pumps through another dam into the Čukarica Bay. This way an artificial flow of water in the lake is created. Because the water is also used for drinking, environmental concerns of the water lake are an imperative and the lake is under the regime of the most rigorous environmental protection. Weeds are being groomed on the lake's bottom to purify the water by bonding phosphorus, nitrogen and dirt. Use of boats with engins is strictly prohibited in the lake and dogs are also not allowed on the beach.

Wildlife in the lake mostly consists of introduced fish species. Most common fish in the lake are silver carp and grass carp but a large catfishes can also be found, so the Ada authorities issued a statement saying that this large specimens are harmless. Lots of attention gained a 2008 public announcement of the discovery of freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi. [Sr iconCite web |url= http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2008&mm=06&dd=25&nav_id=305425| title= Meduze u beogradskom moru "Medusae in Belgrade Sea"|date= 2008-06-25|author= |accessdate=2008-08-17 |work http://www.b92.net B92] ] These tiny, transparent and gentle hydromedusae begin their life as polyps and develop into jellyfish only if conditions are right, like purity and water temperature over 25 Celsius. However, authorities claim that these harmless and almost invisible jellyfishes are present in the lake for over 20 years.

Ada Safari Lake

Ada Safari is a small, irregularly shaped lake on the northern tip of Ada Ciganlija. It was the last remaining marshy area in that section of the island, overgrown by undergrowth and reeds. This area was turned into a small lake in 1994 called Ada Safari, with an area of 6 hectares. Rare and capital species of fish were introduced using the strictly controlled quality selection. Intended for the sports fishing, there are 300 numbered fishing seats around the lake with obligatory special permit for fishing in Ada Safari. Fish species include common carp, grass carp, crucian carp and, in Serbia rare tench or "doctor fish". Small zoo is built next to the lake which mainly includes swamp birds like ducks and swans, but also peacocks and pygmy goats.

Settlements

The only settlement on Ada Ciganlija is located in its northern section. It is called Partizan, after the facilities of nearby rowing club "Partizan". City authorities plan to relocate the settlement with its 1,000 inhabitants, which oppose the move. During the 2006 European floods, city urged for them to move to the mainland as the Sava reached all time high of 723 centimeters, while the settlement is located behind the dam, almost eight meters below the top. Wall of the dam which was on the brink of collapse was hastily strengthened and elevated in an effort to prevent the tragedy which was ultimately done, but even in these conditions population refused to relocate claiming the city is just using this situation to move them from Ada.

Climate

Due to its independent ecosystem Ada Ciganlija is privileged with a particular microclimate. This is thanks to the coimbination of various contributors, including the land-water-land-water complex which includes a river, its right bank, two islands and water bodies between them, artificial but water-flowing lake, another lake on the island and very thick woods. As a result of this, air humidity is increased compared to the rest of the city which brings to the lower temperatures during summer.

Wildlife

Plants

Ada Ciganlija is a unique ecosystem and an oasis in the urban area. Vast majority of the island is forested. The original, thick deciduous forest, usually described as centenary, mainly cosists of oaks, elms, birches and willows. In the mid XX century further planned forestation of Ada included planting of American poplars and green ash. This characteristic of Ada gives its visitors an illusion of being in complete wilderness because the noise of the city, whose central parts are in the immediate vicinity, is completely shut out by the thick forest. Most of the forest on the island is protected, including the entire central, northern and western section. These parts of the island are entirely wild with uncultivated vegetation and very little or no human presence, making this island unique in the European urban contexts.

Animals

Apart from numerous amphibians and insects, it is considered that mammal fauna on the island is special as it enables for foxes, hares, roe deers or wild boars to live free in urban area. However, as the environmentalists warned that the island's biocoenosis has been changed to a certain extent, a new population of 60 hares and 100 pheasants was introduced into the island in 2006.

Bird species include more common lapwings, mallards, quails and pheasants, but also some threatened migratory birds, most notably the pygmy cormorant which winters in Belgrade in large numbers, over 3,000 birds as the ongoing research by the League for Ornithological Action shows. That represents 5% of the European wintering population of this species.

Name and human history

First part of Ada Ciganlija's name, "ada", means "river island" in Serbian. Word is Turkish in origin where it simply means an island, [ [http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada Turkish Wikipedia article on "Ada"] ] but in landlocked Serbia it specifically denotes river islands (Ada Međica, Ada Kaleh), beside already existing Serbian word for island, "ostrvo". River island can also be referred to as "ostrvo" (Veliko Ratno Ostrvo, Malo Ratno Ostrvo), but sea island is never called "ada". Other part is believed to be derived from either "ciganlija", variety of small, red apple or "Cigani", Serbian name for Gypsies, which inhabited the island. Citation | last = | first = | author-link = | title = Ada Ciganlija | newspaper = Leksiklopedija-TV Novosti | pages = p. 25 | language = Serbian | year = 1992 | date = 1992-08-03 | url = ] The latter is more likely, as both Austrian and Italian maps from the mid and late XVIII century name the island "Zigeuner Insel" and "Isola degli Zingari", respectivelly, both meaning "Gypsy Island" in their respective languages. Recently, certain claims were made in order to remove or change the origin of the island's name, like claiming that island was called Serbian Ada before 1946 (which was easily proved to be untrue) , or that its name is originally derived from Celtic words "singa" meaning "island" and "lia" meaning "submerged ground". It is accepted by some as a possibility rather uncritically, as Celtic word for island is "inis", surviving as such in modern Irish or in varieties of "innis" in Scottish and "ynys" in Welsh. [En iconCite web |url= http://www.fermentmagazine.org/Bio/ainay2.html| title= Ainay-le-Chateau 2 |date= |author= |accessdate=2008-08-18 |work http://www.fermentmagazine.org Ferment magazine] ] [En iconCite web |url= http://www.ynys.com/index.htm| title= Welcome to Ynys |date= |author= |accessdate=2008-08-18 |work http://www.ynys.com Ynys] ] [En iconCite web |url= http://kernowek.net/pipermail/spellyans_kernowek.net/2008-July/000956.html | title= Spellyans |date=2008-07-26 |author= Craig Weatherhill |accessdate=2008-08-18 |work http://kernowek.net Kernowek standard] ]

Importance of Ada Ciganlija was confirmed back in 1821 when it was declared a protected public domain by then Prince of Serbia, Miloš Obrenović. Until 1941, a prison was located on Ada Ciganlija. [cite book |author= |year=1986 |title=Mala Enciklopedija Prosveta, Vol. I |publisher=Prosveta |location=Belgrade|isbn=86-07-00001-2|language=Serbo-Croatian] [cite book |author= |year=2006 |title=Srpska porodična enciklopedija, Vol I|publisher=Politika NM & Narodna knjiga |location=Belgrade|isbn=86-331-2730-X|language=Serbian] At that time Ada wasn't a popular recreational area and the major beach area was across its northern tip, in the Gospodarska Mehana section of the Senjak neighborhood. Still, even then, one of major Serbian writers Branislav Nušić, nicknamed it "Vodeni cvet" (water flower) because of its beauty. On the night of July 17, 1946, new Communist authorities executed on Ada Ciganlija number of former politicians and military officers court-martialed as collaborators with the Nazis in the World War II, including the Chetniks leaders Draža Mihailović and Kosta Mušicki, and ministers in the government of Milan Nedić: Tanasije-Tasa Dinić, Đura Dokić and Velibor Jonić.

For decades, Ada Ciganlija was popular among loners and fishermen, including the famous actor Pavle Vujisić. After his death in 1988, it was proposed that the access road to Ada should be named after him, but another street in the new neighborhood of Altina in Zemun was later named after him. Situation began to change in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Ada was connected to the mainland and first sport championships were organised prombpting the construction of special facilities, like World kayaking championship of 1971. Popularity of Ada was further enhanced in the 1980s with the music and entertaining show "Leto na Adi" (Summer on Ada), televised live by the Radio Television Belgrade.

Ada Ciganlija is today managed by the municipal government via the Public Enterprise "Ada Ciganlija" ( [http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu/ JP "Ada Ciganlija"] ), which maintains the grounds of the recreational areas and especially the beach and the Sava Lake. It is responsible for cleanliness, maintenance such as trimming of the underwater algae, public safety (life guards), etc. Even though the island is a public good, the island itself is not exclusively managed and owned by the city. There are numerous private entities who administer businesses and recreation facilities, as well as the golf course. Notably, many Serbian famous sports personalities have invested in this area.

Facilities and activities

The island has been conceptualized as Belgrade's focal point for mass sporting activity and recreation. As such, it features a great number of facilities which get more numerous every year. They include:

Apart from the sport facilities, a 7 kilometer-long beach of the Sava Lake has a closely supervised, fenced-off children's swimming area. Ada Ciganlija features a tall sports observation tower and bleachers on multiple levels which is its most prominent structure as well and one of very few permanent solid structures. One of those structures is the "Jezero" hotel at the entrance.

Ada Ciganlija has in the past been a host to a number of local and international water sporting events such as competitions in rowing and kayaking. The very first golf course in Serbia has been built on this island in recent years along with a golf club house, a golfing store, golfing school and a practice range. This golf course is also the seat of the first and so far only Serbian golfing association.

The island is home to the "Rowing Sport Club" and several rowing societies like VK Partizan, VK Crvena Zvezda, and VK Grafičar. A sailing school and a club as well as all accompanying sailing facilities can be found on this island.

The northern edge of the island is lined with attached floating barges, or houses on the water owned by many Belgraders as a weekend refuge given this island's exceptionally quiet and green environment. Many city dwellers come to Ada to enjoy fishing excursions picniks and barbecues.

Ada Ciganlija features several tuck shops, over 70 restaurants, bars and cafés as well as a café-cinema. There is a nudist beach on the western edge of Ada, and a popular gay cruising area. From the Ada's beach, as most Belgradian's like to call this island, stunning views of central Belgrade can bee seen. Belgrade sunsets are particularly beautiful when viewed from this spot.

On of the island's most noted landmarks is the fountain, based on the famous Jet d'Eau (water-jet), situated in Lake Geneva. Belgrade one is also 140-metre-high and it was installed in 1996. The fountain is operating during the day all year round, except in case of frost and particularly strong wind. It also operates in the evening between spring and autumn and is lit by a set of lights. During the summer months in the later hours, the island stages a spacial laser light spectacle for those still present at the beach.

This Island also has an artistic sculpture workshop located at the eastern end of the island in the direction of the city. Ada Ciganlija also has a children's theatre featuring scheduled performances. There is also a Robinson Crusoe Island entertainment feature which stages self-themed performances.

Transportation

Although there are man-made land routes leading to the island, they are seldom used due to poor accessibility to the city's public transport system and main roads. Numerous lines of the city public transportation routes close to the northern entrance to the Ada: bus lines number 23, 37, 51, 53, 56, 57, 58, 88, 89, 91, 92, 511 and 551, while tram lines number 12 and 13 are also passing near. Due to the ever larger number of visitors, city authorities began introducing special seasonal bus lines, specifically designated for the transportation to Ada from distance parts of Belgrade. Each year they expand and in the summer of 2008 there were five such lines: Ada 1 (downtown, Vidikovac), Ada 2 (Zemun, Blokovi), Ada 3 (Konjarnik), Ada 4 (Mirijevo), Ada 5 (Bežanijska Kosa, Novi Beograd). [Sr icon Cite web |url= http://www.bgdnovine.com/bgd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=403:beoinfo-vesti&catid=103:beoinfo&Itemid=326 | title= Počinju sa radom sezonske linije do Ade Ciganlije "Seasonal Ada Ciganlija lines started"|date=2008-06-18 |author= |accessdate=2008-08-23 |work= [http://www.bgdnovine.com BgdNovine] ]

There are regular boat transfer services taking people from Belgrade's river banks onto the island. In 2008 experimental introduction of the boat lines of the city public transportation began and one of those lines is Block 44 (Novi Beograd)-Beograd bathing place (Ada Ciganlija). There is also a small electricity-powered wheeled 'tourist train' touring on the island. There is also an impromptu recreational marina on the island's downstream end. There are plans to expand this marina and make it permanent. Boating in the lake as well as car traffic on land is strictly forbidden. There is a large parking lot on the Makiš side of the river.

Ada Ciganlija bridge

City and state authorities plan to build a new bridge over the Sava which is projected to cross over the eastern tip of the Ada Ciganlija. The bridge is set to be a Belgrade's future landmark due to its imposing structure. The central pylon is to be 200 meters tall with hundreds of cables suspending the bridge. It will provide a direct land link to the island via the elevators as well as a planned light rail station that will stop mid-bridge to service passengers to and from the island. Many serious concerns were raised over building of the bridge across Ada. Original environmental, aesthetic or practicality reasons quickly turned into vanity disputes and insults among clans of architects and interested economic parties in the very heated and seemingly endless public debate in the media. The construction of the bridge, as it is projected, should start in late 2008.

Social aspect

Ever since Ada Ciganlija began gaining popularity, there is a dual view of its importance. During the economic hardship of 1980s and subsequent wars of the 1990s, it was often regarded as an "necessary evil" as the only "resort" available to masses of economically disadvantaged people. Use of this recreation area has always been free of charge and more than often over-crowded and regarded as having poor hygiene, because for decades Ada had no proper facilities or institutionalized care. That changed however, and the zone is today properly maintained, has the proper infrastructure and appropriate commercial and recreational content. It is now possible to play sports which were not even invented when transformation of Ada began and it turned into a highly popular gathering place, especially among youth, and a must-see destination for foreign tourists visiting Belgrade. [Sr icon Cite web |url= http://www.politika.co.yu/rubrike/Kritika/tv-program/Nasha-mala-tragedija.lt.html | title= Ada - More Beograda "Ada - Belgrade Sea"|date=2008-07-18 |author= Branislava Džunov |accessdate=2008-08-23 |work= [http://www.politika.co.yu Politika] ]

See also

* Sava
* Belgrade
* Serbia
* Bridge over Ada Ciganlija

External links

* [http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu The island's official page] (Serbian only)
* [http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=1834 City of Belgrade's Ada Ciganlija Page] (Serbian, English, German and French)
* [http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu/galerije/galerije.jsp Picture gallery of Ada Ciganlija] (Serbian only)
* [http://www.golfclub.co.yu Belgrade Golf Club, school and association] (Serbian and English)
* [http://www.beoland.com/ump/pic/most2sl.jpgImages of the new planned bridge over Ada - Belgrade's Land Development Agency]
* [http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu/mapa.htm An interactive map of Ada - very detailed!] (Serbian only)

References