During the early 18th century, the settlement at Yekaterinburg was one of the Russian Empire's furthest establishments in the east of the country, bordering on the Siberian frontier. The settlement was located on the banks of the Iset river and as such was strategically important, while the Ural mountain's rich mineral deposits made the region a viable candidate for settlement. In 1721, work had begun on the construction of a foundry, further increasing the strategic importance of the settlement. To better project military power in the area, construction of a new fortress around the Yekaterinburg settlement began on 3 March 1723, starting with the establishment of a barracks. Work began on damming the Iset river that same year, the majority of which was carried out by the 38th Tobolsk Infantry Regiment.