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The Big War Island and the Small War Island represent a green bridge between the two historic centers of the city. Two unique islands at the confluence of great rivers are part of the historical sight of Zemun and Belgrade, Gardoš and the Belgrade Fortress.
In the recent past, there were circumstances that could have led to the disappearance of the two islands. The construction of New Belgrade and the extraction of sand from the Danube, which filled the swampy terrain, caused the Island of the Little War to almost disappear.
Thanks to the new sand deposits, the Lido beach, at the western end of the large island, emerged from the Danube and was not submerged by the construction of the Djerdap dam on the Danube as a bathing place in the Sava near the bridge of Branko, who today we know only from old paintings.
The elimination of agricultural plantations in the 1990s and the inaccessibility of the island have created conditions for the permanence of birds, the spawning of fish and, more recently, the nesting of pairs of white-tailed eagles.
And here we come to the main difference between the coast of the Island of the Great War and the rest of Belgrade’s approach to the rivers.
We witness that the inhabitants of the blocks along the Sava cannot see the rivers from their pierced wall of rafts from their pier. The growth trend in the height of the rafts in Ušće Park, which was started by the Lukas raft, continues, and the growth of the rafts in height and width seems to be limited only by the laws of nature.
At the Palace of Serbia, newly arrived rafts are slowly clearing vegetation along the river and occupying public green areas. The coast is, whenever access is possible, from left to right of the first, stronger and more ruthless. This island, on the contrary, left to itself, has become richer and greener.
And here, after the alleged survey conducted, there is a renewed initiative of a political movement behind the bridge, which should allow pedestrian access to the Great War Island throughout the year. What would that bridge bring?
Currently, around two-thirds of the island enjoys protection as a nature reserve with around 196 species of birds, many of which are in danger of extinction. Based on the number of plant and animal species listed, this island is one of the best-preserved natural habitats in Belgrade.
Even if we believe that irresponsible citizens with quads and motorcycles will not cross the proposed bridge, that noisy festivals will not be organized as was the case in 2003: the construction of the bridge will open the possibility of building soybeans that have taken all the vacancies in the Sava from Belgrade to Ostružnički Bridge, and they are also starting to sprout on the Danube.
At the same time, the size of the Lido beach varies with the water level of the Danube. In years when the water level of the Danube is high, the beach, even in summer, completely disappears and swimming is not possible. At very high water levels, the Danube completely floods the island and eliminates structures built with wood and other natural materials.
If something is built, it will be concrete. Does Belgrade need more concrete? – especially on the Island of the Great War. Although most of the projects claim that protection regimes will be respected, can we be sure that in this environment of breaking the law and ignoring regulations, this will actually be the case?
Finally, I would like to mention the state of the Zemun promenade, whose bridge would be an extension. The latest reconstruction of the pier moved the shoreline away from the front of the buildings. That space is now mainly occupied by the restaurant’s gardens.
The new port for large tourist boats, in addition to aesthetically disturbing the appearance of the Zemun quay, because the investor was mainly concerned with its function, and not with its visual communication with the Baroque city, will turn the space at the foot of Gardoš into a platform revolving and parking for tour buses. For now, it’s jammed with cars from restaurant visitors. A part of the bank of the Danube, sold for the construction of sports fields, was permanently taken from the citizens and visitors of Belgrade and is now abandoned.
Finally, walkers right next to the proposed bridge suffocate from the stench of the sewer at low water levels and fly away. Under the slogan of the descent of Belgrade to the rivers, legally or illegally as on the Sava embankment, all the larger coastal areas are being privatized. Is the idea of building a bridge to the Isle of the Great War a serious idea to open up this lucrative location for investor parties that remains to be seen? The blindness of political activists to the problems listed above when choosing priorities for initiatives raises questions.
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