Why did France establish Fort Frontenac at present-day Kingston?

France established Fort Frontenac in 1673 at the site of the Indigenous settlement of Cataraqui, located at the junction of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, primarily to serve as a fur-trading post and a military fortification.12

By positioning the fort at this strategic location, the governor of New France, Louis de Buade, comte de Frontenac, aimed to secure French influence in the region and facilitate the expansion of the fur trade into the interior. The post became a key point for managing the flow of furs toward Montreal and supported further exploration into the North American west.12