Lake Ilmen

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Lake Ilmen
Lake Ilmen - Volkhov River at its outflow from Lake Ilmen.
Volkhov River at its outflow from Lake Ilmen.
Coordinates 58°20′N 31°20′ECoordinates: 58°20′N 31°20′E
Primary sources Msta, Lovat, Shelon
Primary outflows Volkhov
Basin countries Russia
Max length 40 km
Max width 32 km
Surface area 982 km²
Max depth 10 m
Water volume 908 km³
Surface elevation 18 m

Ilmen (Russian: Ильмень) is a historically important lake in the Novgorod Oblast of Russia, formerly a vital part of the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks. The city of Novgorod lies six kilometers below the lake's outflow.

Its verage surface area is 982 km² (may vary from 733 to 2,090 km² depending on water level). The lake is fed by 52 inflowing rivers, the four main ones being Msta, Pola, Lovat River, Shelon and is drained through a single outlet, the Volkhov, into the Lake Ladoga, and subsequently via the Neva into the Gulf of Finland.

The water level is regulated by the Volkhov hydroelectric dam situated downstream the Volkhov River. Water temperature in July is 19-20°C. Bathing season is about 90 days. Fishery. Shipping lines are NovgorodStaraya Russa and NovgorodShimsk.