Topciderska reka
Encyclopedia
The Topčiderska Reka or colloquially Topčiderka (Serbian Cyrillic: Топчидерска река or Топчидерка) is a river in north-central Serbia
, a 30 km-long right tribtuary to the Sava river to which it flows in the urban section of Belgrade
. It is one of the 40 rivers, streams and creeks that flow or used to flow through Belgrade (majority of them is conducted underground into the city sewage system).
(Lipovička suma) area, on the northern slopes of the Parcanski vis, the northern section of the Kosmaj
mountain, at an altitude of 192 meters. Originally, it flows to the north-east, until it reaches the Belgrade's suburb of Ripanj, in the municipality of Voždovac
. From there, the river flows generally into the north-west direction, along the Šumadija
's geological bar into which the river carved its epigenetic valley and formed a watershed. The valley of Topčiderka is a natural route for the Belgrade-Niš
railway.
After it flows between the villages of Pinosava
and Rušanj
(western slopes of the Avala
mountain), the Topčiderka enters the urban section of Belgrade (Rakovica
municipality) at the neighborhood of Resnik. It continues through the neighborhoods of Kijevo
, Labudovo Brdo
, Kneževac
, Rakovica, Miljakovac
and Kanarevo Brdo
.
At this point, the river enters the territory of the municipality of Savski Venac
where the vast woods of Topčider
are formed. After the Topčiderka passes next to the Konak of Prince Miloš and the Belgrade's hippodrome
, it empties into the Čukarica
Bay of the Sava river, across the northern tip of the Ada Ciganlija
island, at an altitude of 69 meters. It drains an area of 147 km² (out of which 70 % is agricultural land) with 35 tributaries and belongs to the Black Sea
drainage basin
.
, Topčiderka is notoriously highly polluted, which resulted in City government's 2007 Study on cleaning the river and it's drainage basin , which was officially presented in May 2008. The study is the first ever complete collection of measures for Topčiderka improvement. Concrete bed for the further 7 kilometers are projected, so as the seven small reservoirs (added to the already existing two) which will prevent floodings and make irrigation possible. City architect, Đorđe Bobić, stated that "once we protected the city from the river, now the time has come to protect the river from the city".
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, a 30 km-long right tribtuary to the Sava river to which it flows in the urban section of Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. It is one of the 40 rivers, streams and creeks that flow or used to flow through Belgrade (majority of them is conducted underground into the city sewage system).
Course
The Topčiderka originates in the LipovicaLipovicka šuma
Lipovička šuma is a forest in the outer, metropolitan area of Belgrade, Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipalities of Voždovac and Barajevo .- Location :...
(Lipovička suma) area, on the northern slopes of the Parcanski vis, the northern section of the Kosmaj
Kosmaj
Kosmaj is a mountain south of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. With an elevation of 626 meters, it is the highest point of the entire Belgrade City area and is nicknamed one of two "Belgrade mountains" .- Location :The Kosmaj, is located 40 kilometers south-east of Belgrade...
mountain, at an altitude of 192 meters. Originally, it flows to the north-east, until it reaches the Belgrade's suburb of Ripanj, in the municipality of Voždovac
Voždovac
Voždovac is an urban neighborhood and one of 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.- Location :...
. From there, the river flows generally into the north-west direction, along the Šumadija
Šumadija
Šumadija is a geographical region in Serbia. The area is heavily covered with forests, hence the name...
's geological bar into which the river carved its epigenetic valley and formed a watershed. The valley of Topčiderka is a natural route for the Belgrade-Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
railway.
After it flows between the villages of Pinosava
Pinosava
Pinosava is a small town and a suburban settlement of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Voždovac.- Location :...
and Rušanj
Rušanj
The Rušanj is a suburban settlement of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in the municipality of Čukarica....
(western slopes of the Avala
Avala
Avala is a mountain in Serbia, overlooking Belgrade. It is situated in the south-eastern corner of the city and provides a great panoramic view to Belgrade, Vojvodina and Šumadija, as the surrounding area on all sides is mostly a lowlands...
mountain), the Topčiderka enters the urban section of Belgrade (Rakovica
Rakovica, Belgrade
Rakovica is an urban neighborhood and one of 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.- Location :...
municipality) at the neighborhood of Resnik. It continues through the neighborhoods of Kijevo
Kijevo, Belgrade
Kijevo is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Rakovica.-Location:...
, Labudovo Brdo
Labudovo Brdo
Labudovo Brdo is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Rakovica.- Location :...
, Kneževac
Kneževac
Κneževac is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Rakovica.-Location:Κneževac is located in the central part of the municipality...
, Rakovica, Miljakovac
Miljakovac
Miljakovac is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Rakovica.-Location:...
and Kanarevo Brdo
Kanarevo Brdo
Kanarevo Brdo is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Rakovica.-Location:...
.
At this point, the river enters the territory of the municipality of Savski Venac
Savski Venac
Savski Venac is one of 17 urban municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Savski Venac is one of the three municipalities that constitute the very center of the city .-Location:Savski Venac is located on the right bank of the Sava river...
where the vast woods of Topčider
Topcider
Topčider is a forest park and an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is divided between in the municipalities of Čukarica, Rakovica and Savski Venac...
are formed. After the Topčiderka passes next to the Konak of Prince Miloš and the Belgrade's hippodrome
Hippodrome
A hippodrome was a Greek stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name is derived from the Greek words "hippos and "dromos"...
, it empties into the Čukarica
Cukarica
Čukarica is an urban neighborhood and one of the 17 municipalities than constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.- Neighbourhoods :...
Bay of the Sava river, across the northern tip of the Ada Ciganlija
Ada Ciganlija
Ada Ciganlija , 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, the capital of Serbia. The name can also refer to the adjoining artificial Sava Lake and its beach...
island, at an altitude of 69 meters. It drains an area of 147 km² (out of which 70 % is agricultural land) with 35 tributaries and belongs to the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
.
Tributaries
Tributaries of the Topčiderka include:- PariguzPariguzPariguz is a lake in Resnik, an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, Serbia.The funny name of the lake was inherited from the muddy valley which existed before...
(right, at Resnik) - Kijevski potok (left, at Kijevo)
- Rakovički potokRakovicki potokThe Rakovički potok is a short stream in north-central Serbia, a 8,5 kilometer-long right tribtuary to the Topčiderka river. During its entire flow it runs through the southern outskirts of the urban section of Belgrade...
(right, at Kneževac) - JelezovacJelezovacJelezovac is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Rakovica....
(right, at Kanarevo Brdo)
Pollution
Despite its river bed has been arranged and concreted in majority of its urban course, the Topčiderka still floods the surrounding areas of Belgrade during heavy rains. Over 160,000 inhabitants lives in the urban section of Topčiderka. As a result of high density of population and sewage systems, industrial zones the river passes through and advanced erosionErosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
, Topčiderka is notoriously highly polluted, which resulted in City government's 2007 Study on cleaning the river and it's drainage basin , which was officially presented in May 2008. The study is the first ever complete collection of measures for Topčiderka improvement. Concrete bed for the further 7 kilometers are projected, so as the seven small reservoirs (added to the already existing two) which will prevent floodings and make irrigation possible. City architect, Đorđe Bobić, stated that "once we protected the city from the river, now the time has come to protect the river from the city".
External links
- http://www.vodevojvodine.com/SRPSKI_www/SIFRARNIK/Prikaz.php?Rednibroj=711&Sifravodotoka=D6571&Stacionazauliva=4+160&Nazivvodotoka=Topčiderska%20reka&Duzinatoka=30&XIzvora=4%20940%20000&YIzvora=7%20463%20350&ZIzvora=192&XUsca=4%20961%20000&YUsca=7%20454%20970&ZUsca=69&Visinskarazlika=123&Podsliv1=&Podsliv2=&Podsliv3=&Podsliv4=&Sliv=Dunav&Padtoka=4.1Info on Topčiderska reka (Waterworks of Vojvodina)]