Népsziget is a neighborhood in
Budapest
Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...
, located in the
IV and
XIII
XIII may refer to:
* 13 (number) or XIII in Roman numerals
* 13th century in Roman numerals
* ''XIII'' (comics), a Belgian comic book series by Jean Van Hamme and William Vance
** ''XIII'' (2003 video game), a 2003 video game based on the comic b ...
districts. It is also known as ''Újpesti Island'' or ''Mosquito Island''. The peninsula is approximately 2 km long and covers an area of 50 hectares. It is situated on the boundary between the districts, on the northern and southern sides of the Újpest railway bridge embankment. Originally, it was one of the
Danube
The Danube ( ; see also #Names and etymology, other names) is the List of rivers of Europe#Longest rivers, second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest sou ...
river's islands, but today it is a
peninsula
A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula.
Etymology
The word ''peninsula'' derives , . T ...
. It is bordered by the Danube on all sides except for Zsilip Street. It is located to the northeast of
Hajógyári Island
Hajógyári Island (Shipyard Island, for the shipyard companies that once operated there) or Óbudai-sziget (Óbuda Island, or Island of Old Buda) is the largest Danubian island in Budapest. Located in District III, it is a popular recreationa ...
.
History
It was called Saban Island, according to the records of the border survey of Pest in September 1695. On 18th-19th century maps it is shown as Pesti Island, later Újpesti Island. Later it was colloquially known as Szúnyog-sziget (Mosquito Island) or Csigás-sziget (Snail Island). It was originally an island on the Danube on the border of
Pest and
Rákospalota
Rákospalota (literally: ''Castle ponRákos rook', ) is a neighbourhood in Budapest, Hungary. With Pest-újhely and Új-palota it comprises District XV.
History
In the early Middle Ages there were about six villages in the northern part of ...
, which was connected to
Újpest
Újpest (; , ) is the 4th District in Budapest, Hungary. It is located on the left bank of the Danube River. The name Újpest means "New Pest" because the city was formed on the border of the city of Pest, Hungary in 1838. Újpest was a village ...
by a thin isthmus between 1853 and 1863 via Újpest's Zsilip Street, and thus became a peninsula.
According to the boundaries of the time, the whole of Népsziget was part of Budapest and Palotai Island was part of Újpest. It is interesting to note that, since the old city boundary is still indicated in the text of the law as the boundary between the districts XIII and IV, the northern part of the island, although de facto part of the administrative district IV since the 1960s, would de jure belong to the district XIII.
[MHD Angyalföldi Gyáregysége, 1962-1985](_blank)
- hajoregiszter.hu
The Újpest railway bridge was built in 1896, providing an important link between the peninsula and the two banks of the Danube. Budapest's bid for the
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the IX Olympiad (), was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from 28 July to 12 August 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam had previously bid for ...
envisaged the peninsula as an important central location for the Olympics.
In the bay, at the southern tip of the peninsula, there used to be a small boat ferry across to the peninsula (Rocsó) from Meder Street. This was closed by the 1980s, when the footbridge was built. The deteriorated bridge was renovated in 2017.
[http://magyarepitok.hu/mi-epul/2017/08/ilyen-lett-az-ujpesti-obolben-felujitott-meder-utcai-hid Ilyen lett az Újpesti-öböl felújÃtott hÃdja]
Sources
Budapest Encyclopedia I–II. Ed. László Berza. 2nd, expanded edition. Budapest: Akadémiai. 1993. ISBN 963-05-6409-2
References
{{reflist
Budapest