Ferries in Istanbul Ferries in Istanbul The city of Istanbul is at a geographic crossroads, straddling Europe and Asia Minor, and is divided by a sea lane called the Bosphorus Strait, which joins the Black Sea in the northeast and the Marmara Sea in the southwest. This strait has played a key role in the history of the city. Boats have traversed the waters of the Bosphorus for millennia and until the opening of the first Bosphorus bridge in 1973, were the only mode of transport between the European and Asian halves of Istanbul. They continue to serve as a key public transport
Names of Istanbul form of "Istambuł" is also universally accepted and employed in many translations), Latvian, Lithuanian, Georgian and Albanian. The Albanian form is "Stamboll"; the Spanish form is "Estambul"; the Portuguese form is "Istambul", with an "m" instead of an "n". Armenian uses "Bolis", based on the Greek "Poli(s)" 'City'. Icelandic preserves the old Norse name "Mikligarður", though the form "Istanbúl" is generally used. In Slovene "Carigrad" is still largely used and often preferred over the official name. Names of Istanbul The city of Istanbul has been known by a number of different names. The most notable names besides the modern Turkish