Lake Valdayskoye

Valdai Lake
Aerial view of Lake Valdayskoye
Valdai Lake
Valdai Lake
LocationValdai Hills, Novgorod Oblast
Coordinates57°59′15″N 33°17′42″E / 57.98750°N 33.29500°E / 57.98750; 33.29500
Catchment area97.2 km2 (37.5 mi2)
Basin countriesRussia
Surface area19.7 km2 (7.6 mi2)
Average depth12 m (39 ft)
Max. depth60 m (200 ft)
SettlementsValday

Lake Valdayskoye or Lake Valdai (Russian: Валдайское озеро, озеро Валдай, romanizedozero Valdai) is a freshwater lake in the center of the Valdaysky District of Novgorod Oblast in Russia, in the middle of the Valdai Hills. One of the largest lakes in Novgorod Oblast, it has a surface area (without islands) of 19.7 km2 (7.6 mi2), and the area of its basin is 97.2 km2 (37.5 mi2). The average depth of Lake Valdayskoye is 12 m (39 ft) and the deepest point is 60 m (200 ft). The lake freezes up in early December and stays icebound until early May. The lake is in the center of Valdaysky National Park.