Zvezdara Forest
Zvezdara Forest | |
---|---|
Звездарска шума Zvezdarska šuma | |
Location | Zvezdara, Belgrade |
Coordinates | 44°48′14″N 20°30′36″E / 44.804°N 20.510°E |
Open | Open all year |
Zvezdara Forest (Serbian: Звездарска шума / Zvezdarska šuma) is a park-forest in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Majority of the forest is located in the municipality of Zvezdara with only the small northernmost section being on the territory of Palilula. After Košutnjak and Topčider, Zvezdara is the largest forest in the urban zone of Belgrade and with them, the most important source of the oxygen for the city. While the Košuntjak-Topčider complex is being called the "Belgrade's oxygen factory",[1] Zvezdara forest bears the moniker "left lung of the city".[2]
Location
Zvezdara forest is completely surrounded by the city's urban area and covers most of the 253 m (830 ft) tall Zvezdara Hill. It is situated in the northernmost section of the municipality of Zvezdara, on the border with Palilula. The northern and eastern boundary of the forest is formed mostly by the Dragoslava Srejovića street, except for a wooded patch which spreads into the neighborhood of
Name and history
On the northern slopes of the hill remnants of the prehistoric and Celtic period have been found (Rospi Ćuprija). Historically, Zvezdara hill was known as Veliki Vračar (Great Vračar). Vračаr area at that time occupied much wider area that it does today and was divided into West Vračar, East Vračar and Great Vračar. Turkish source from 1621 describes it as "a hill and a big field". In the 17th and 18th century, the area was covered in vineyards, orchards and lush oriental gardens, a major excursion ground for the wealthy Belgrade Turks which called the hill Ekmekluk and built their summer houses there. When Belgrade was occupied in 1717 by the Austria, a defense moat was built whose outer section crossed the hill, where the modern Volgina street is today. After Austria re-occupied Belgrade in 1789, the trench was reconstructed by the general Ernst Gideon von Laudon and became known as the "Laudan trench" (Serbian: Laudanov šanac or simply Šanac). Due to the military importance of the hill, its gardens were neglected.[3][4]
In the 19th century the foothills were not urbanized and, being far from the city center, were used by the Belgraders as a resort and picnic area, named Baba Ružin kraj ("Grandma Ruža's neighborhood"). King
After Belgrade was declared a national ski center in 1934, there were plans for the construction of
Characteristics
The forest is generally a crescent-shaped wooded area which today covers an area of 137 ha (340 acres), out of which 21 ha (52 acres) is arranged as a park.[7][2] There are many paths and proper streets, including the Volgina street which criss crosses the entire forest. The forest was partially expanded to alleviate the effect of the strong košava wind. while the extension on the southern slope, towards the hospital, prevents the possible mass wasting.[5][2] It creates a milder microclimate, conducts fresh air to the central urban tissue, prevents the erosion and creates a mass natural underground water reservoir. Also, it prevents the pollution from the industrial city of Pančevo on the east to reach the center of the city.[8]
Features
Apart from the observatory, objects within the forest or near it include the "Mihajlo Pupin Institute" in the north-central and seven small stadiums (FC 29. Novembar, FC Zvezdara, FC Mladi proleter, FC Bulbulderac, Omladinski stadion) in the north-western section. Children complex "Zvezdani Gaj" is also located in the forest. Patches of the northern section are urbanized, forming a neighborhood of Zvezdara II (especially along the Dragoslava Srejovića street). South of the forest are the Clinical-hospital Center Zvezdara and sports center Olimp. The hospital was built in the early 1930s and is colloquially known as the "City hospital".[4] East of the forest is the Belgrade New Cemetery.
The forest is damaged by the unauthorized individual residential construction, so in 2007 Belgrade City government announced further plans to extend the Zvezdara Forest to the north and south, connecting it in the process to
In 2012 a Science Technology Park Belgrade was finished and opened, after being in the construction since 1989. It is located in the east central entry into the park.
In July 2017 the city government announced the project of "Zvezdara promenade". It is supposed to be the 900 m (3,000 ft) long forested esplanade which would connect the Volgina street and the FC Mladi proleter stadium with the roundabout in the neighborhood of Bogoslovija. The promenade will have small squares and scenic viewpoints. It is part of the wider reconstruction of the area which would cover 35.18 ha (86.9 acres). The project includes the removal or reconstruction of many public buildings and companies but also a possibility of demolition of the small, residential houses with backyards and construction of the 5-storey buildings.[9]
Wildlife
Plants
Zvezdara forest is an example of an urban
Animals
There are three amphibian and four reptilian species in the forest. Amphibians are
Zvezdara forest is inhabited by the 48 bird species, in different protection statuses. There are 21 species of the birds which nest in the protected area, with another 9 species in the rest of the forest. In winter and during the migration, another 9 species settles in the forest. Protected species include
Protected mammal species are northern white-breasted hedgehog (which has been chosen as the symbol of the forest)[12] and European mole.
Protection
Zvedara forest is
References
- ^ Branka Vasiljević (23 March 2015). "Čišćenje pluća fabrike kiseonika" (in Serbian). Politika.
- ^ a b c d e f g Marko Luković (6 August 2009), "Zvezdarci čuvaju šumu od plana", Politika (in Serbian), p. 23
- ^ a b Slobodan Giša Bogunović (3 September 2011), "Biodiverzitet na roštilju", Politika (in Serbian)
- ^ a b c d e f "Zaštićeno područje "Zvezdarska šuma", spomenik prirode" (in Serbian). JKP Zelenilo-Beograd.
- ^ a b Politika daily, July 16, 2007, p.25
- ^ Goran Vesić (18 August 2023). "Авала као прво скијалиште" [Avala as the first skiing ground]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 17.
- Večernje Novostidaily, April 9, 2007, p.16
- ^ a b c Marko Luković (30 October 2009). "Strofe i refreni za Zvezdarsku šumu" (in Serbian). Politika.
- ^ Daliborka Mučibabić (10 July 2017), "Zvezdarska promenada sa trgovima i vidikovcima", Politika (in Serbian), p. 14
- ^ Study of Tawny Owl Strix aluco (Linnaeus 1758) diet from pellet samples collected in Serbia during 2003 and 2004 [1]
- ^ Branka Vasiljević (5 October 2021). Значај станишта за животињски опстанак [Importance of habitats for animal survival]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 16.
- ^ Vladimir Vukasović (9 June 2013), "Prestonica dobija još devet prirodnih dobara", Politika (in Serbian)
External links
Media related to Zvezdarska šuma at Wikimedia Commons