The weakened Ottoman Empire was attractive to Russia in the nineteenth century because it had control over several important geographic features. One of the most crucial was access to the Mediterranean Sea, which would give Russia a warm-water port and potential dominance over the lucrative trade routes in the region. Additionally, the Ottoman Empire had control over the straits of Bosporus and the Dardanelles, which linked the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and allowed Russian ships to sail through them. By taking control of these strategic locations, Russia could gain a major military and economic advantage in the region.