staurants, raft venues along the side of the Sava fa- cing New Belgrade, the natural Ada Safari pond and countless other contents. Ada Ciganlija Lake Sava still serves as a drinking water reservoir that’s constantly purified by the plants growing on the lakebed, though previous inhabitants of roe deer, fox and even rabbit have long since fled the forest, having been disturbed by the hustle and bustle of the metro- polis. Although everything has an aura of good fun on Ada Ciganlija, there’s also a lot to learn there, thanks to the newly renovated Science Park that’s filled wi- th wondrous gadgets. The most enticing is the lever system, which Archimedes once claimed could move the world with adequate leverage. However, Ada’s le- vering challenge is somewhat easier, given that the Yu- go car that it lifts weighs around 1,000 kilograms and can be lifted by a few small children. Adults are inte- rested in where it is currently night around the glo- be while the sun shines in Belgrade, so they check out the strange globe that informs them using shadows. However, interesting science is just an overture to the good time to be had on the eight square kilome- tres of Ada Ciganlija, the length and breadth of whi- ch can be toured by riding the tourist train, driving an electric vehicle or hiring a bicycle. Visitors can al- so circumnavigate the lake on foot, if they have the ti- me and inclination to stroll 7,700 metres. In the mi-
If there’s anything that could make other major European cities envious of the Serbian capital, that would be Belgrade’s numerous river islands, offering beaches, nature, adventure and cafés where you can catch some rays, but also dance ‘til dawn Seek salvation from the sizzling summer Belgrade’s river islands
T he course of the Sava embraces the river is- lands of Ada Ciganlija and Ada Međica al- most at the very centre of Belgrade, as well as the islands of Progarska Ada, Barička Ada and Ada Skeljanska on the outskirts of the city, while the Danube washes the shores of Great War Island, Gročanska Ada and Višnjicka Ada. Their shared ward is Little War Island, located at the confluence of the two rivers, while the Serbian capital also has its own peninsula: Ada Huja, which was connected to the main- land during the last century by way of an earthen em- bankment. And the most popular of all, Ada Ciganlija, was an island until 1959, and had housed military camps during earlier centuries. Its Celtic name refers to the changing water level by combining the words “singa”, meaning low waters, and “lia”, meaning high waters. Due to it being densely forested – mostly of oak, elm and poplar – it is dubbed a green oasis, while the adja- cent Lake Sava is why it’s also popularly known as the Belgrade Sea. However, this “sea” has its own geyser – though admittedly its manmade – and its own park of stone sculptures, as well as numerous cafés and re-
Tekst/Words: Dragana Nikoletić Fotografije/Photography: Đorđe Kojadinović, Milorad Milanković. Masanori Josida, Petra Marković
Belgrade » Beograd | 69
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