Malo Ratno Ostrvo, River island in Zemun, Serbia
Malo Ratno Ostrvo is a narrow island at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers in Zemun, stretching as a thin strip between the two waterways. It is densely covered with poplar trees and is now protected as a nature reserve.
The island lost considerable size after 1948 when large amounts of sand were extracted for building the Novo Beograd district. This shift reflects how the riverscape was reshaped over the decades.
The former name Konjsko Ostrvo reveals the island's past as a grazing ground where merchants would rest their horses during river trade journeys. Today visitors can sense this history in how the land still feels shaped by its role in the old trading routes.
The island is not open to visitors and can best be observed from the opposite shore or during a boat trip along the rivers. Viewing from outside gives the clearest perspective of the vegetation and narrow shoreline.
The waters surrounding the island function as breeding and feeding grounds for multiple fish species in the Belgrade river system. Bird watchers can spot rare water birds that visit the area to hunt and nest.
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