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107-624: Because, prior to 2010, there wasn't any federation in the country to organize a national championship, Bucharest Warriors wasn't affiliated to any league and played only friendly games. In 2010, the Bucharest Warriors was invited to its first official competition, the Central European Football League . On April 11, the Warriors hosted Istanbul Cavaliers in a qualification game for the respective competition. Also, one week after

214-582: A developmental competition: CEFL Bowl XII was played at the Tivoli stadium in Innsbruck on 10 June, where Swarco Raiders overpowered Kragujevac Wild Boars 55–20. CEFL Cup finals were played the same day in Kranj, the home of Alp Devils who were shutout by Novi Sad Gat Dukes 0–59. Most prominent season in organization's existence. CEFL Championship was played by 6 champions: 5 national and a returning CEFL Bowl XII winner. It

321-491: A fishing resort, which now consists of 300 numbered fishing seats around the lake with an obligatory special permit for fishing. Fish species include common carp , grass carp , crucian carp , wels catfish , Prussian carp , zander and tench , which is rare in Serbia. Fish are mostly released back into the lake as fishermen can keep their catch in case if the fish is lighter than 10 kg (22 lb), if they pay extra and if it

428-469: A gravel beach. The water regularly reaches 24 °C (75 °F) during summer. Both dams allow water to flow 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 itself separated from the river by the third dam. This mini "buffer" lake called Taložnik ("depository") is used as a purifier for the waters of both Lake Sava and city waterworks, which also use this water. Filtered water

535-522: A great fulfillment of its strategy. This American football team article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about sports in Romania is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Central European Football League The Central European Football League ( CEFL ) is a European organization of American football which hosts two international competitions, CEFL Championship and CEFL Cup. The final game of

642-517: A total of five teams: Belgrade Vukovi , Kragujevac Wild Boars , Novi Sad Dukes and Sirmium Legionaries from Serbia, as well as Ljubljana Silverhawks from Slovenia. The first ever league champions were Wild Boars who beat Vukovi 23–12 in SELAF Bowl, played on FK Radnički stadium in Belgrade on 8 October. The second season was already a season of expansion for the league with two new teams. Joining

749-446: Is an area under sanitary protection. Šapić then back-pedaled a bit, stating that this is just a "political idea" which is not hastily made, that only now analyses and surveys will be done to check the viability, that nothing will be built instead of the zoo but the fortress will be conserved , and that there is no set time frame for the project. The arm of the Sava river which separated

856-480: Is considered the weakest section of the entire embankment system on the island is just 100 m (330 ft) from the Partizan settlement. Next to the building is the parking for the communal vehicles used for the works on Ada. In 2011, the management ordered the artists to move out. As of 2023, the building still stands and serves as an atelier. One of the artists working there was Ratko Vulanović (1941–2023), author of

963-418: Is constantly being pumped into the lake while on the northeast, the water is pumped out by electrically powered pumps through another dam into Čukarica Bay. In this way, an artificial flow of water through the lake is created. Because the water is also used for drinking, sanitation and environmental protection of the lake are imperative and the lake is under rigorous environmental protection. Weeds are groomed on

1070-431: Is in its northern section, located behind another dam. It is called Partizan , because of the nearby Partizan Rowing Club . First stilt houses were built right after World War II as the summer houses for the army officers. In 1959 the construction of the proper settlement was suggested, and the first houses were built in 1960. Those were small, serial weekend houses with an area of 12 m (130 sq ft). Most of

1177-399: Is not a tench , which is protected by the law. Some animals roam freely in the area, like rabbits , ducks , geese and swans . A small zoo has been built next to the lake, chiefly containing swamp birds, as well as more exotic animals such as peacocks , pheasants and pygmy goats . There is also a restaurant on the shore and a typical Serbian 18th century house from Šumadija which

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1284-550: Is where the Topčiderka river flows into the Sava. Near the connection point with the main flow of the Sava, the bay is today crossed by the Ada Bridge . The bay is used for the sports and leisure activities as the kayaking clubs were located in it, so as the marina for small boats, while the banks are encircled with the bicycle paths. The bay is 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long and 120 to 160 m (390 to 520 ft) wide. Surface of

1391-655: The Cineplexx Blue Devils from Austria. Kragujevac Wild Boars and Budapest Docler Wolves have left the league. CEFL Bowl X was played on FK Kabel stadium in Novi Sad on 5 July, where Dukes took their first trophy by beating Vukovi in a nailbiter 25–23. The 2016 season marked the expansion of the CEFL with 12 teams. Member teams from last year were joined by new additions Budapest Cowbells from Hungary and Graz Giants from Austria, while Zagreb Patriots from Croatia returned to

1498-625: The Long Bridge , the first permanent bridge in Belgrade's history. As the opposing, Syrmian side across the Sava was a vast marsh at the time (modern New Belgrade ), the bridge didn't stop at the bank but continued for some length above the swamp. Because of that, the people also called it the Bridge above the marsh ( Most preko močvare ). The bridge was built by the Austrians to help them conquer Belgrade from

1605-584: The Ottomans during the 1688 Siege of Belgrade . According to the records, a seasoned Belgrade master craftsman Đorđević "in only one month, with the help of his 400 workers, built the Long Bridge, using 2,000 tree trunks, 1,100 wooden piles, 15,500 bundles of palings and 12,000 palisade pickets." Right next to it, bit closer to Ada Ciganlija, the Austrians constructed another, classical pontoon bridge, which "leaned on

1712-614: The Vienna Vikings ' Ravelin football center in Vienna on 25 October. In the 2009 season, Cineplexx Blue Devils of Austria replaced the non-returning Monarchs. They joined a newly formed conference with Thunder, Vukovi and Wolves. The other conference consisted of 2008 champions, Gladiators, along with Cowboys, Dukes and Silverhawks. The bowl game was again played on the Ada Ciganlija stadium in Belgrade on 24 October, with Vukovi reclaiming

1819-557: The World War I , Serbian forces spread over the island to prevent Austrians to use it as the starting point of entering Serbia. Two major battles ensued, on 22–24 September 1914 and in September 1915. In an effort to exploit the withdrawal of the Serbian army from Syrmia in September 1914, Austro-Hungarian Lieutenant field marshal Kasimir von Lütgendorf  [ de ] decided to conduct

1926-532: The Yugoslav Wars since 1991. City authorities planned to relocate the settlement. During the 2006 European floods , city authorities urged them to move to the mainland from the settlement, which was located almost 8 m (26 ft) below the dam, as the Sava reached a record height of 723 cm (285 in). The wall of the dam, on the brink of collapse, was hastily strengthened and elevated in an effort to prevent catastrophe, but even in these conditions,

2033-402: The excise on the goods (in Serbian called trošarina ) and setting of a series of excise check points on the roads leading to the city. One of those check points, which all gradually also became known as trošarina , was located next to Topiderka's mouth into the Sava, across the northern tip of Ada. Built in the 1830s and 1840s, it became known as Gospodarska Mehana . It was also a location of

2140-399: The feint attack on the Sava rivers (Ciganlija and Međica) which was to be followed by the landing operation on the Serbian side of the river, conquering of the neighborhoods of Banovo Brdo and Topčider and then, using the western route, entering downtown Belgrade. Attack began on 22 September when the first group of the Austrians attempted to land on the southern tip of Ada. The location

2247-458: The "political decision was made to handle this", and, if everything goes by the plan, the relocation might be finished in three years. The new zoo will be double in size, from 7 ha (17 acres) to 14 ha (35 acres). In order to ease the access to the zoo on an island, city will push the construction of the pedestrian bridge and revitalize the project of gondola lift from New Belgrade to Košutnjak, via Ada. Public and expert's backlash against

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2354-575: The "source of fresh air", a term Josimović used for large forests. Neglected since then, Ada came to the spotlight in 1908 when the Society of the Belgrade's journalists organized the first journalists' ball on the lower tip of Ada. In 1911, the first Serbian feature-length motion picture , The Life and Deeds of the Immortal Vožd Karađorđe was filmed on the island. On 28 July 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia , thus triggering

2461-530: The Ada as part of the international design competition concerning the arrangement and expansion of Belgrade. Competition was announced in 1921. One of the submitted works, titled Urbs Magna ("Great City"), proposed construction of the large, multi-functional stadium and transformation of the island into the sports park. First facilities of the swimming and rowing clubs on the island were built after that. The Belgrade's first general urban plan , completed in 1924, envisioned

2568-425: The Ada's central forested complex was declared a protected habitat "Fungi of Ada Ciganlija" by the city on 29 November 2013. Apart from the wood fauna characterized for the wet soils, it hosts 250 species of fungi, many of which are listed on Serbian and international lists of rare or endangered species. It is the only known habitat in Serbia of Myriostoma coliforme . Location starts 80 metres (260 ft) away from

2675-410: The Ada's defense, engaged the Austrians in an effort to force them to retreat across the river. Serbian reserve was sent to the battle and major Mojsilović, who was wounded, was replaced by major Svetomir Đukić . After several charges which resulted in hand-to-hand combat , Serbs cornered Austrians on the Ada's northern tip. During that time, behind Serbian back, Austria landed more troops from Međica so

2782-537: The CEFL Championship playoffs is dubbed CEFL Bowl. Until the formation of the CEFL Cup in 2017 the name of the organization was synonymous with its flagship competition – CEFL Championship, or simply "the league". Initially named Southeast European League of American Football (SELAF) it featured teams from Serbia and Slovenia in its introductory 2006 season. The following year teams from other countries joined ranks and

2889-456: The Long Bridge". The Romani settlement which existed on Ada in the 17th century was displaced from the island to the Sava's right bank, at the mouth of the Topčiderka, before the Austrian occupation of Belgrade from 1717 to 1739. It is not known whether it happened some time before or during the fighting from 1716 to 1718. One map from the Austrian period shows a Romani settlement with 24 houses at

2996-463: The Sava further downstream due to the toxicity. The plan to build a treatment plant on the bank near the Belgrade Fair which would detoxicate the sludge and produce fertilizer from it was scrapped due to the high costs. At the time, the silt is being dredged and vegetation cut just enough to make it navigable for the small boats in the marina. The bay was partially dredged in 2016. The pollution of

3103-409: The Serbian forces ended being encircled . They managed to break out but by that time they were attacked from the flank by the new Austrian forces. Serbs retreated to the easternmost section of the island and started to dig in . On 23 September Austrians conducted three charges on Serbian positions, coming close to only 30 steps from the trenches, but were backed off. As Austrian army had problems with

3210-650: The Serbs from the island. Serbian loses were heavy, turning effectively Ada into an open graveyard, earning a moniker "Island of death". During Interbellum , Ada wasn't the most popular recreational area as 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 (watery flower) because of its beauty. In 1920 city decided to arrange

3317-748: The Topčiderka's watershed, founded the polluting factories and closed them, fixing this problem. Ada Ciganlija has a unique ecosystem , creating an oasis in the urban area. Most of the peninsula is forested. The original, thick deciduous forest mainly consists of oaks, elms, birches and willows. In the mid 20th century, further planned forestation of Ada Ciganlija included the planting of Northamerican poplars and green ash . In total, some 450 plant species inhabit Ada, including white poplar , black poplar , white willow , pedunculate oak , narrow-leaved ash , Canadian poplar , European white elm , box elder , American ash . In 2010, total forested area covered 1.79 km (0.69 sq mi), or two thirds of

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3424-710: The Western Conference together with Swarco Raiders. Calanda Broncos reinforced the Eastern Conference with Kragujevac Wild Boars and Koç Rams, and Panthers Wrocław were relocated to it. CEFL Cup doubled its membership to eight top-level teams. Previous season's additions have departed, and the newcomers were Italian league finalists Bolzano Giants , Russian champions Moscow Spartans , Romanian champions Bucharest Rebels , and Turkish Istanbul İTÜ Hornets, while Hungarian champions Budapest Wolves and Russian runners-up Moscow Patriots returned to CEFL flock. CEFL Bowl XIV

3531-455: The adjoining artificial Lake Sava and its beach. To take advantage of its central location, over the past few decades, it was turned into an immensely popular recreational zone, most notable for its beaches and sports facilities, which, during summer seasons, can have over 100,000 visitors daily and up to 300,000 visitors over the weekend. Owing to this popularity, Ada Ciganlija has been commonly nicknamed "More Beograda" ('Belgrade's Sea'), which

3638-462: The already existing Serbian word for island, ostrvo . A river island can also be referred to as ostrvo (e.g. Veliko Ratno Ostrvo ) but never vice versa. The remains belonging to the Scordisci , a Celtic tribe which founded Singidunum and Taurunum , the predecessors of Belgrade and Zemun , respectively, were found. Area of Ostružnica, near the southern tip of Ada Ciganlija, was a location of

3745-410: The bay continued, including two atmospheric precipitation collectors which overspill into the bay, to which the fecal sewage is illegally connected, and the bay was described as the ecological time bomb. In December 2019 the winning project was announced. It includes the transformation of the bay into the artificial whitewater and the proper marina . A project by Aleksandar Nedeljković, named "Flight of

3852-405: The bay itself is 16 ha (40 acres), but the area which city administration included in the bay locality includes and additional 5.8 ha (14 acres) of aquatorium and 20.8 ha (51 acres) of the surrounding land. In March 2018 city announced an urban design competition for the adaptation of the total bay area (42.6 ha (105 acres)). The forested area on the mainland, at the entrance into

3959-458: The bay turned out to be polluted more than ever. By April 2021 the water was classified as the lowest, fifth category. The water was anoxic , full of ammonium-nitrogen and orthophosphates . The red wastewater from the sewage also influenced water's organoleptic qualities – changed color, murkiness, strong smell and visible residues of organic matter, but in May city administration announced it inspected

4066-399: The bay, administratively belongs to the municipality of Savski Venac and covers 3.61 ha (8.9 acres). Since the early 1980s there is a constant ecological problem due to the massive pollution of the bay as a result of the polluted waters of the Topčiderka river. The garbage and highly polluted silt fills the bay and creates shoals . During low-tide, the bay is unusable for the boats in

4173-414: The bridge and the cross, both made from timber, have been constructed. Fish are especially prepared for the winter in the process of "winter carp bathing". In the second week of November each year, fish (up to 9 tonnes in total) are taken from the lake to the shore by the professional fishermen. The lake is then emptied and the largest fish specimens are "bathed" in the small bathtubs with the water mixed with

4280-428: The city to move out, but the zoo was not mentioned to them, which they took as a proof that the relocation of the zoo was an ad hoc idea. The residents were reluctant to move and refused compensations offered by the city. Close to the northern tip, as the northeastern extension of Partizan settlement, there is an Old Bath "Partizan" ( Staro Kupatilo ). Since 1983 it has been a location of an artistic colony, occupied by

4387-412: The combination of factors, Ada Ciganlija is privileged with a microclimate . Situated between a river, an artificial flowing lake, various islands, and a heavily wooded area, air humidity is heightened compared to the rest of the city, helping to nullify Belgrade's high temperatures during summer. Lake Sava ( Serbian : Савско језеро, Savsko jezero ), often also referred to as Ada , was created from

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4494-413: The competition (conducting the Topčiderka directly into the main Sava riverbed by the pipes) does not tackle the problem of the already existing sludge deposits or the toxicity of the waste. Also, it was outright labeled as way too expensive, even by its authors (up to €70 million). An experiment was conducted when the water from the bay and river was pumped into the special pools in the nursery gardens of

4601-419: The customs, or was simply smuggled. The importance of Ada Ciganlija can be traced back to 1821, when it was declared a protected public domain by then Prince of Serbia , Miloš Obrenović . The first official urban plan for Belgrade was drafted in 1867. It was a work of Emilijan Josimović , the first Serbian trained urbanist. He envisioned Ada as the main sports' center of Belgrade and was to be transformed in

4708-518: The defending CEFL Champions. The Unicorns defended their title. In the 2023 season, 12 teams entered the competition. With the Kuopio Steelers the first finish team played in the CEFL. The two French clubs Thonon Black Panthers and La Courneuve Flash made it to the final. In the semi finals, the Black Panthers defeated two times titleholder Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns , while Flash won over

4815-507: The early 1990s began spending winters on the Malo Ratno Ostrvo , in the Danube . When their number exceeded 1,000, they resettled to three new locations: first at the willow grove on the Sava's bank ( Belgrade Fair ) and then to the area near the tip of Ada and the neighboring Mala Ciganlija . Their number rose every year to 6,750 in 2007/08, but since then is generally reducing and in 2015 it

4922-462: The ferry which transported pigs across the Sava into the Austria. This trošarina also functioned as a customs house. On 25 January 1859, when prince Miloš Obrenović and his son Mihailo Obrenović returned to Serbia, they disembarked here. In this period, Ada became a home to ferrymen and numerous smugglers, who operated both ways. The island was sort of a base where the goods was prepacked either for

5029-483: The final where the Swarco Raiders conquered Vienna Vikings with a 35–10 score. In 2020, 12 teams (10 national champions and 2 vice-champions) should have participated in the 15th CEFL season: Swarco Raiders, Vienna Vikings, Calanda Broncos, Wroclaw Panthers, Thonon Black Panthers, Milan Seamen, Copenhagen Towers, Badalona Dracs, Stockholm Mean Machines, Kragujevac Wild Boars, Koc Rams, and Moscow Spartans. The season

5136-521: The fold. Former Alpe Adria Football League teams joined as well. Those were: Domžale Tigers and Kranj Alp Devils from Slovenia, Niš Imperatori and Inđija Indians from Serbia, and Sarajevo Spartans from Bosnia and Herzegovina. CEFL Bowl XI was played on ASKÖ Stadium in Graz on 3 July, where Giants won the trophy by outgunning Vukovi 52–49 in another cliffhanger. CEFL Championship continued to gain traction. Problems with IFAF leadership which started

5243-632: The game, 56–12, becoming the first champion of Romania . The Bucharest Warriors retained the CNFA title in 2011, after 14–6 and 15–20 against the same opponent from the previous year, Cluj Crusaders . Bucharest Warriors has initiated and trained over 500 persons in American football in Bucharest, and helped various teams to launch in Bucharest and other cities. The club is fully devoted in building American football in Bucharest and Romania and has great initiatives and

5350-589: The game, Bucharest Warriors has begun their first campaign in an official competition organized by the EFAF , the Challenge Cup . In the autumn of the same year, together with three other teams from Romania , the Bucharest Warriors have competed in the first-ever Romanian Championship of American Football . On November 21, 2010, in Bucharest, Bucharest Warriors met Cluj Crusaders , in the Romanian Bowl. The home team won

5457-410: The gull" envisions the reconstruction and elevation of all embankments along the bay's banks, turning them into the vertical retaining walls . Pumps for the creation of the whitewater by day, would be used to purify the water by night and prevent the sludge from depositing on the bottom. Proposed name for the marina and sports center is "Whitewater Arena". However, this project, just like some others from

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5564-426: The ice which would then elevate itself slab by slab until it reaches over the top of the piles and breaks into pieces. The stream would then take smaller pieces next to the docked ships. In the case of complete freezing of the river, the tugboats were deployed, with crew members being armed with axes, grappling hooks and dynamite. As the Society built and kept zimovnik on its own, without state help, they charged

5671-406: The invasion of western Serbia and attack on Šabac , General Alfred Krauß  [ de ] asked from the commander of the forces for the entire Balkans, Oskar Potiorek , to send him two regiments from Lütgendorf. Potiorek not only agreed but he ordered Lütgendorf to reroute all forces to Šabac. On 24 September the Austrians withdrew. Serbs followed them to make sure it is not another ploy, but

5778-400: The island from the mainland was called Čukarica Arm ( Чукарички рукавац ). Serbian Shipping Society, which was founded in 1890, decided to use the arm as the zimovnik , or winter shelter for ships and boats. Upstream from Čukarica, at the time suburban village of Belgrade, the Society dammed the arm with slanted, shackled, thick triangular piles, called pilotne . Facing the stream, they stopped

5885-416: The island to Mladen Milovanović , the first city chief. After the collapse of the uprising, Milovanović fled to Hungary , but returned in 1813 and unsuccessfully tried to find the gold which he has dug and hidden somewhere on Ada. Starting in 1821, the state government decided to organize food trade and to check the quantity and quality of the goods imported to the city. The project included introduction of

5992-662: The island's biocoenosis has been overly affected, a new population of 60 hares and 100 pheasants was introduced into the ecosystem in 2006. Bird species include northern lapwings , mallards and pheasants. Common woodland and parkland birds during the nesting season include song thrush , great tit , blue tit , long-tailed tit , Eurasian nuthatch , European green woodpecker , great spotted woodpecker , golden oriole , nightingale , blackcap , common chaffinch , hooded crow , Eurasian magpie , common wood pigeon , feral pigeon , white wagtail and barn swallow . Unlike other rivers and wetlands in Belgrade, swans rarely visited

6099-491: The island. This characteristic of Ada gives its visitors an illusion of being in complete wilderness, aided by the fact that city ambient noise is completely muted by the thick forest. Most of the forest on the island is protected, including the entire central, northern and western sections. These parts of the peninsula are entirely wild with uncultivated vegetation and very little or no human presence, making it unique compared to other European city islands and peninsulas. Part of

6206-424: The lake for over 20 years. The first specimens were discovered in 1994 and they can also be found in the Danube . They live only for several days. Ada Safari ( Serbian : Ада Сафари ) is a small, irregularly shaped lake on the northern tip of Ada Ciganlija, primarily used for fishing . In the late 1960s, the hole was formed as the sand was dug to construct the permanent embankment which connected Ada Ciganlija to

6313-482: The lake's bottom to purify the water by bonding phosphorus , nitrogen and dirt. Use of motorboats is strictly prohibited in the lake and dogs are not allowed on the beach. Wildlife in the lake mostly consists of the fish species which were introduced since the 1950s. The most common fish in the lake are the introduced silver carp and grass carp , but large autochthonous wels catfish , weighing over 100 kg (220 lb), can also be found, causing concern among

6420-480: The lake, including occasional black swans . Starting in September 2020, swans began to arrive at the lake, until several dozens flocked in total, and remained on Ada. The number of swans in Belgrade had been constantly growing since the 2010s, reaching some 600 birds by the winter of 2021. They are mostly mute swans and are quickly adapted: more and more of them becoming sedentary rather than migratory, accustoming to humans who regularly feed them, becoming popular among

6527-442: The lake, including the autochthonous carp , northern pike , zander , common bream , asp and European perch , and the imported, and highly invasive brown bullhead , Prussian carp and pumpkinseed . There are also crayfish and crabs , and since the 2010s, the red-eared slider inhabits the lake, too, probably being released in the lake by the owners who kept them as pets. The freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi

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6634-418: The lake. The fungi was discovered on the island in 1993, and in 2022 covered 21.25 hectares (52.5 acres). In terms of fauna, besides having numerous amphibians and 94 species of insects , Ada Ciganlija contains several mammal species, considered special due to the setting of the peninsula in an urban area. Foxes , hares and roe deer inhabit the peninsula. However, with environmentalists warning that

6741-429: The last nests of yellow-legged gull in Serbia were spotted on Ada. The nesting pairs were spotted again in 2021, in the Đerdap Gorge , some 250 kilometres (160 mi) to the east. In April 2022, plans were announced to declare Ada Ciganlija a protected area, as a landscape of outstanding features, by the end of 2022. It will cover 4.51 square kilometres (1.74 sq mi). The only settlement on Ada Ciganlija

6848-483: The league were the top Hungarian team, Budapest Wolves , and CNC Gladiators , then of Austrian Division I (Austria 2nd highest level). Meanwhile, the Legionaries have left the competition. For the first time teams were split into two conferences: North and South. North Conference consisted of Gladiators, Silverhawks and Wolves and South Conference included three Serbian teams: Dukes, Vukovi and Wild Boars. The final game

6955-506: The mainland, turning it into the peninsula by 1974. It was the last remaining marshy area during the transformation Ada Ciganlija, infested by undergrowth and reeds , until its conversion into a lake in 1994, 235 m (771 ft) long, with an area of 6 ha (15 acres). It was officially opened in 1995. The water pumps are used to fill the lake, bringing water from the Sava Lake. Rare species of fish were introduced in order to create

7062-403: The marina, located in the middle of the bay or for the kayakers of Partizan and Crvena Zvezda who use the bay for practice. The silt is up to 5 m (16 ft) thick, smells bad and is poisonous so the swimming in the bay is forbidden. In 2011 the estimated amount of garbage sludge in the bay was 120,000 m (4,200,000 cu ft). The sludge cannot simply be dredged and thrown in

7169-516: The medical, healing ingredients. In 2022, new city administration headed by mayor Aleksandar Šapić included relocation of the Belgrade Zoo from the Belgrade Fortress in the city's urban plan. In February 2023, Šapić announced relocation of the zoo to Ada Safari. This would also include relocation of the Partizan settlement. The relocation was planned to last several years. Šapić added that

7276-522: The mouth of Topčiderka. Maps also show that the settlement existed during the next Austrian occupation from 1788 to 1791. When the Austrian army attacked Belgrade in the 18th century, the Ottomans expelled Serbian population from the city, so they temporarily settled on Ada. When Belgrade was liberated by the Serbian rebels in the First Serbian Uprising , leader of the uprising, Karađorđe , granted

7383-433: The municipality of Novi Beograd, covers an area of 8 km , including the islands of Ada Ciganlija and Ada Međica, waterways between the two Adas and Lake Sava, and some of Makiš itself. Lake Sava, formerly a branch of the Sava, was turned into a lake with two dams, while the remaining section on the northeast was turned into Čukarica Bay. There is another small lake on Ada Ciganlija itself, known as Ada Safari. Thanks to

7490-536: The name was changed to the current one before the 2008 season. First 4 seasons of the league were played during the spring and autumn, with a month-and-a-half to a three-month summer break. Starting from 2010 season the competition takes place during the spring. Over its existence, the league was played intermittently by teams from: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. The inaugural season featured

7597-472: The newly formed wild card cup, with the winner taking the final playoff spot. The bowl game was played in Ivančna Gorica , Slovenia on 18 July, where Vukovi beat Silverhawks 42–20 to become the league champions once again. In the 2011 season the league saw the departure of Blue Devils and Dukes. Competition consisted of four teams, which were all national champions of their respective countries. The title

7704-399: The original construction was finished from 1964 to 1966. As the nearby Ada Safari wasn't adapted yet and was a marshland, original settlers, who were from the upper classes, were leaving and instead the workers who migrated from the interior of Serbia settled in. During the various works on Ada Ciganlija, workers would use the houses as tool sheds. Additional boost was an influx of refugees from

7811-405: The painters and sculptors. In the 1980s the venue organized many artistic exhibitions. After the 2006 floods a project of reconstruction of the embankment to prevent the flooding was introduced. The embankment, which was to prevent 25 Renney water wells from being flooded, passes right through the bath building which was to be demolished so that this gap in the embankment can be filled. The gap, which

7918-402: The populace refused to relocate, claiming the city to just be using the situation to relocate them. As their families grew, inhabitants expanded the houses. As of 2016 Partizan had some 1,000 inhabitants in 260 houses covering an area of 14 ha (35 acres). By the latest urbanistic plans, the settlement is still to be evacuated as it is built without any permits and is located in the zone of

8025-445: The project was massive, especially regarding hastiness, arbitration, irrelevance, legality and selected location. Public speculated that the residents of the newly built affluent K-Distrikt residential complex across the zoo are bothered by the smell, or that some more lucrative structures might be built instead of the zoo on such exceptional location. Additionally, this area of Ada is a floodplain with high level of underground waters, and

8132-491: The residents, and turning into the mascots of the neighborhoods they inhabit. Ada is also the wintering ground for some threatened migratory birds , most notably the pygmy cormorant which winters in Belgrade in large numbers. Pygmy cormorant inhabited the Pančevački Rit marshland, just north of Belgrade, in the early 20th century, but after that area was drained and urbanized, they disappeared. Several hundreds of birds in

8239-479: The right arm of the Sava with the building of two dams near the northern and southern tips of the island in 1967. The lake is 4.2 km (2.6 mi) long, has an average width of 200 m (660 ft) and is 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) deep. It covers and area of 0.86 km (0.33 sq mi) and is 78 m (256 ft) above sea level, one of the lowest areas of Belgrade. 7 km (4.3 mi) of its shores on both sides have been transformed into

8346-560: The river, Ada Ciganlija borders Novi Beograd (specifically residential blocks and the urban neighborhoods of Savski Nasip ) and another artificial peninsula called Mala Ciganlija ("Little Ciganlija"). Between Ada Ciganlija and Novi Beograd lies Ada Međica , a wholly insulated river island. Formerly an island, Ada Ciganlija is now an elongated peninsula, stretching for 6 km from west to east and 700 m from north to south at its widest, and covering an area of 2.7 km . The entire Ada Ciganlija ecological complex, which stretches into

8453-641: The sanitary protection. In the 2016 plan for the area, city envisioned thermal and outdoor pools, spa center, small hospitality and catering venues, children's playgrounds and outdoor exhibition area. Announcement of the relocation of the Belgrade Zoo to Ada in February 2023, also included statement of the relocation of the settlement. Despite claims from the city officials that the idea was not made hastily, residents confirmed that already in July 2022 they were approached by

8560-443: The sculptural composition at the Ada's entrance, called Stone City, or popularly nicknamed Adahenge. The author himself called the sculptural complex Gates of Belgrade ( Kapije Beograda ). The etymology of the name could be Celtic in origin, which probably is the most likely scenario. Some believe that it is derived by some form of the word for Romani ( cigani , "gypsies"), attested in 1717 as German : Zigeuner-Insel when it

8667-661: The second participant of last season's bowl game, Parma Panthers . In the CEFL Bowl, Flash succeeded with a 26–21 victory over the national rival. In the 2024 season, again 12 teams entered the competition. The British national league had its first representative in the CEFL with the Manchester Titans and an Austrian team returned to the competition after being absent in 2023. The French teams from Thonon and La Courneuve both lost their semi final games against Danube Dragons from Austria and Calanda Broncos from Switzerland. It

8774-486: The state company for the forest management "Srbijašume". The water was treated by various selected plants, in the process called phytoremediation , and the quality of the water improved from the fifth to the second category, but the technology wasn't pursued any further. Instead, in 2019 and 2020, it was applied at the Lake Trešnja , in the suburb of Ripanj , where it proved to be highly successful in reducing pollutants in

8881-444: The swimmers so the authorities issued a statement that they are harmless. In March 2019, a 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long catfish was caught in the lake. Catfish of this size is a rarity and, as required by the law, it was returned in to the lake. Other catfishes of this size were reported by the divers in previous years, but they lay lazily on the bottom of the lake, not swimming to the surface. There are 20 to 25 fish species in

8988-712: The third season featured three new teams from three different countries: Bratislava Monarchs from Slovakia, Budapest Cowboys from Hungary and Zagreb Thunder from Croatia, while the Wild Boars did not return. The Cowboys and Thunder joined the South Conference, also filling the vacant spot made with the departure of the Wild Boars, while the Monarchs were placed in the North Conference. In CEFL Bowl III, CNC Gladiators from Austria's 2nd highest level league beat Vukovi 14–8 at

9095-459: The title after beating Blue Devils 39–20. The season was also a considerable milestone for the league, as multiple league games have been televised on a trans-European channel Sport Klub . The league changed format again in 2010, with the Turkish national champion Istanbul Cavaliers joining the league and Cowboys, Gladiators and Thunder not returning. Cavaliers were scheduled to play Blue Devils in

9202-470: The title. This year the organization has surpassed all of its previous seasons. CEFL Championship participants hailed from 7 countries. Five of them were national champions, including the current standing two-time CEFL Bowl winners, and the other 2 were vice-champions. Newcomers from previous season have exited the Championship, and there were 3 new additions. Thonon Black Panthers and Milan Seamen formed

9309-465: The tournament with only 8 teams. The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns won the title in the first year they participated with a last second victory over the Raiders Tirol . Source: european-league.com On 22 December 2021, the CEFL announced that the 2022 season would expand the cup tournament format to four rounds. Thirteen teams were invited, with nine national champions among the invitations, along with

9416-443: The use of the object. In the arm's central section, on Čukarica bank, the first shipbuilding facility in Serbia was opened. Though the engines had to be acquired abroad, the shipyard was producing smaller and medium-sized steamboats . Known as the Čukarica Shipyard ( Čukarička brodarnica ), it also repaired all Serbian ships and continuously produced iron-made barges of all kinds and sizes for Serbian and Bulgarian markets. When Ada

9523-574: The water. After several months of bad smell which spread from the bay, the dredging began in November 2020. Until February 2021, the 40,000 m (1,400,000 cu ft) was removed, thus creating a channel to allow the water to flow out of the bay into the river. The dredged sludge is spread along the central section of the Danube's flow, upstream from the Pančevo Bridge . Instead of revitalization,

9630-453: The withdrawal was complete. Serbs lost 1 officer and 17 soldiers, while the Austrian fatalities included 4 officers and 310 soldiers. There was a year long shootout between the two armies, with long calm periods in between, before the German army interfered and began non-stop heavy artillery beating of the island in the late September 1915. Hand-to-hand battle ensued and the German fighters pushed

9737-583: The year before lead to the discontinuation of IFAF Europe Champions League competition. Some of its team members joined CEFL Championship, while the Northern teams formed the Northern European Football League (NEFL). The Raiders Tirol left the BIG6 and joined the CEFL, too. CEFL Championship was composed of two conferences: This year the league also introduced CEFL Cup, played in two conferences as

9844-455: Was 3,850 which is still 5,4% of the European and 2% of the world's pygmy cormorant population. There were concerns that the building of the new Ada Bridge in 2008–12 would disturb the habitat, but the birds endured it well. Their habitat was protected by law in 2008. Any destruction, clearing or pruning of the vegetation is forbidden, so as scaring, disturbing or killing of the birds. In c.1900,

9951-596: Was again claimed by the Vukovi who beat the Wolves 34–33 in yet another dramatic bowl game between these two teams played on Margaret Island Athletic Center in Budapest on 23 July. Croatian top team Zagreb Patriots joined the league and Blue Devils rejoined, while Cavaliers departed. The league was renamed to Sport Klub CEFL after its main sponsor and had multiple league games broadcast on Sport Klub television channels. CEFL Bowl VII

10058-519: Was again played on the Tivoli stadium in Innsbruck on 9 June, where Swarco Raiders defended the title by beating Koç Rams 49–20. CEFL Cup finals took place the following day on the BASK stadium in Belgrade, where Vukovi beat Seahawks 55–41. The Superfinal game between CEFL and NEFL champions was played on 30 June at Gentofte Sportspark in Copenhagen , where Swarco Raiders beat Copenhagen Towers 45–20 to claim

10165-535: Was again played with the same four teams: Budapest Wolves from Hungary, Belgrade Vukovi and Kragujevac Wild Boars from Serbia, and Ljubljana Silverhawks from Slovenia. CEFL Bowl IX was played in Ivančna Gorica on 20 July, where Vukovi won the title beating Silverhawks 27–17. The 2015 season was once again played with four teams. Belgrade Vukovi and Ljubljana Silverhawks have extended their membership, accompanied by two returning teams Novi Sad Dukes from Serbia and

10272-452: Was connected to the mainland via the embankments in 1967, northern section of the arm was transformed into the Čukarica Bay ( Чукарички залив ), though the previous name survived, too. The arm is elongated in the southwest–northeast direction, bounded by the northern tip of Ada Ciganlija, the embankment and the right bank of the Sava (neighborhoods of Careva Ćuprija and southern stretch of Bara Venecija , formerly known as Šest Topola ). This

10379-625: Was deconstructed from the Central Serbia and transferred here. The house was originally built around 1735 in the village of Junkovac , near Topola . There is also a "Magical forest", an area for the kids with reproductions of the fairytale characters: Evil Witch, Cinderella, Wolf and the Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man, etc. There is a small stream over which

10486-456: Was defended from the blockhouse " He-goat ", across the river in the Makiš forest. Under strong fire from the blockhouse, Austrians landed more to the north, in the area which Serbs didn't even defend because it was the plain marsh and it was thought that no one will land there. That way, Austrians successfully landed on the island without much resistance. Major Dobrivoje Mojsilović, acting commander of

10593-478: Was discovered in 2008, garnering much attention for the lake. These anthomedusae begin their life as polyps and develop into jellyfish only if conditions, such as purity and water temperature over 25 °C, are right. However, authorities claim that these harmless and almost invisible jellyfish (they are only 3 mm (0.12 in) to 5 mm (0.20 in) wide, bell is 12 mm (0.47 in) in diameter and have no sting cells) actually have been present in

10700-589: Was made possible by two new additions, Prague Black Panthers from Czechia in the Western Conference and Moscow Patriots from Russia in the Eastern, while Cowbells, Razorbacks and Vukovi exited. CEFL Cup was transformed into a cup competition for high-level teams and featured four participants. Vukovi, who left the Championship and Cowbells, Hungarian champions, were former CEFL members. Two national vice-champion teams were added to membership: Seahawks Gdynia from Poland and Sakarya Tatankalari from Turkey. CEFL Bowl XIII

10807-556: Was mentioned as a depopulated village after the Austrian takeover of Belgrade . An Italian work from 1788 mentions it as Isola degli Zingari . The original toponym might have been singalia , from Celtic Singi (cf. Singidunum ). During World War II it was renamed "Serbian Ada" ( Srpska ada ). The first part of Ada Ciganlija's name, ada , means "river island" in Serbian, a word of Turkish origin (meaning "island"), but in landlocked Serbia it specifically denotes river islands, beside

10914-464: Was named CEFL Bowl II and took place on the Ada Ciganlija stadium in Belgrade on 27 October, with the title won by Vukovi after beating Wolves 28–27 in a dramatic fashion. That season was also the first in which the league made it to television: the semifinal and the bowl game were broadcast on Serbian nationally covered TV Avala . The league changed its name to Central European Football League and

11021-525: Was officially accepted as an advertising slogan in 2008, stylised as More BeogrADA . Ada Ciganlija is located on the southern bank of the Sava River, 4 km from its mouth, and entirely belongs to Belgrade's municipality of Čukarica . Its eastern tip roughly borders the urban neighborhood of Senjak on the west (across an inlet called Čukarica Bay), and the body of the peninsula borders the neighborhoods of Čukarica and Makiš (both across Lake Sava). Across

11128-597: Was played in Chur, Switzerland on 8 June between Calanda Broncos and Swarco Raiders. This very exciting duel went to Swarco Raiders in the final seconds, and they triumphed by 46–42. Another excitement followed a day later in Bolzano Italy, where Moscow Spartans outlasted Bolzano Giants 15–14. ECTC finals, a successor of the Superfinals, were played at the Tivoli stadium in Innsbruck, where two Austrian Football League teams played

11235-526: Was played on Ada Ciganlija stadium in Belgrade on 21 July, where the Silverhawks won their first title after beating the Vukovi 34–21. In 2013, the league has seen the return of one of its original teams, Kragujevac Wild Boars. Blue Devils and Patriots have left the league. The bowl game was again played on Ada Ciganlija stadium in Belgrade on 7 July, with Vukovi reclaiming the title after the most convincing bowl game win over Wild Boars 42–0. The 2014 season

11342-584: Was the Broncos second appearance in an CEFL Bowl. The Dragons won the CEFL Bowl championship defeating the Broncos 27–14 in Chur, Switzerland. Ada Ciganlija Ada Ciganlija ( Serbian Cyrillic : Ада Циганлија , pronounced [ˈǎːda tsiˈɡǎnlija] ), colloquially shortened to Ada , is a river island that has artificially been turned into a peninsula, located in the Sava River 's course through central Belgrade , Serbia . The name can also refer to

11449-589: Was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . After taking 2020 off due to the COVID-19 pandemic , CEFL announced its return for 2021, with a tournament that, for the first time ever, will feature a team from the German Football League . The tournament was initially supposed to feature 11 teams from 10 countries, including 8 national champions. However, some of the extended pandemic lockdowns have forced some teams to withdraw, and CEFL decided to start

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