FACTS. Novgorod region is located in the west of Russia, between Tver region and St Petersburg region. It is part of North-west economical region of Russia.
Novgorod The Great (Novgorod Veliki - Новгород Великий) is located in the north-west of Russia (530 km to Moscow and 180 km to St. Petersburg). It is situated on the Volkhov river, which devides the city into two parts - Trade Side and Sophia Side.
The territory of Novgorod is 76,6 square km, the population is 240000. The phone code is 8162 for 6-digit number and 81622 for 5-digit numbers.

Novgorod Tourist Information Office: "Red Izba": Sennaya square, #5. Tel.: (+7 8162) 273-074, Fax: (+7 81622) 137-342, Email: redizba@novline.ru

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REGION:
• Walk around the beautiful, calm ancient town of Novgorod, see beautiful old churches and monasteries, swim in front of the Kremlin or at Ilmen lake, drink traditional Russian drink - "Medovukha" - in the restaurant inside the Kremlin.
• Experience the beautiful nature of the region: camp around many lakes, rivers, next to small towns and villages
• Visit small provincial towns and see how most of Russia lives. After, it can be interesting to go to small villages, there are many in Novgorod region.
• Visit the former nuclear missile defence base next to Valdai (next to Sosnino village) - see the info soon on our site.

GEOLOGY. On the territory of Novgorod region the two areas are the most significant: Ilmen descent (central and west areas) and Valdai ascent (south and east). In the center of Ilmen descent there's Ilmen lake, around the lake there are many swamps and rivers. Valdai ascent and other ascents are where many rivers start to continue to Baltic sea, or to Caspian sea.
The territory used to be covered by glaciers in the past, that were moving from the north-west (Scandinavia) to the south. They affected very much the territory of the region. Because of them Ilmen descent (and later - Ilmen lake) appeared.

LAKES & RIVERS. Novgorod region is one of the favourite and best areas for rafting in central Russia.
The main lake of the Novgorod region is Ilmen lake, that could've been the biggest lake if Europe, if it wasn't so shallow - it's only from 2.5 to 10 meters deep. The shores of this lake are low and flat, the lands next to the lake are swamps. Because the bottom of Ilmen lake is covered with silt, and because of its shallowness, the water is muddy (the winds are mixing the water) and warm. Volkhov river goes from Ilmen lake to the direction of Novgorod. Ilmen lake and the beginning of Volkhov river are ok for swimming.
In the area of Valdai ascent there are many lakes: Seliger (south of the region, 212 sq. km, 24 m deep), Valdai (south-east of the region, 19.6 sq. m, 60 m deep), Velie (35 sq. km). Besides that's the place where there are many rivers. The most significant are Msta river (that starts in the east of the region and goes 445 km to Ilmen lake), Shevon' (starts at the swamps of Pskov region - on the west - and goes 240 km to Ilmen lake), and Lovat (starts in Belorussia - south and goes 530 km all way north to Ilmen lake).

THE WEATHER. The climate is moderately continental, relatively dry, that's why in winter it can be quite cold (-10 C) and in summer - quite hot, usually +25-30 C (sometimes very hot, like +35-38 C this summer in July).

FLORA & FAUNA. There are many forests in Novgorod region, they take around 60% of the territory. Mostly those forests are elm. There are a lot of swamps in the south of the region and next to Ilmen lake.
There's Vladai national park in the south of the region, not far from Valdai town. It was founded in 1990 and its territory is around 160 th. hectars. There are around 70 lakes. The park is rich with plants (more than 600 types) and rare animals and birds.
Besides, on the territory of Valdai, there were found the stops of the pre-historic man (7-6 thsnd. years old).

ECONOMICS & POLITICS. Novgorod region is probably one of the most opened regions in Russia to the foreigners and foreign capital. The local government deliberately makes the investment climate easier, offering tax exemptions to the foreign companies who want to invest in the region. That's why around 50% of overall output in the region give the companies with the foreign capital.
At the same time, the average income of the people is quite small, the same as in other provincial towns of Central Russia, around $50-$80 US a month, but people seem to live ok, at least there are less homeless and ill people on the streets, than in other towns, and in Moscow and St. Pete.

INDUSTRIES. The industries in Novgorod: radioelectronical, furniture, chemical. All the factories are located outside of the city centrum, down Volkhov river, so the place next to the Kremlin is ok to swim and the air in the city is not polluted.

MONEY. It's better to take roubles with you, but if you have any foreign currency, it should be US dollars, otherwise you'll have problems changing it. The best places to change money are in "Sberbank" - "Сбербанк" bank offices, that are scattered around the city.
In Novgorod ATMs can be found in banks, or at the 24-hour phone office in front of the Kremlin.

THE PRICES. Novgorod is a realtively cheap town. You can get accommodation from 100 roubles ($3.5) for a person (in a budget hotel) to $17 a person in a fancy 3-star hotel's double.
The food will cost not more than 100 roubles a day ($3.5) if you want to save, and around 150 roubles ($5 a day) if you eat in the restaurants.
Transportation around the city is 3 roubles ($0.1) for a bus.
A visit to musems costs around 20 roubles for a foreigner ($0.7) and 10 roubles ($0.3) for a student.
Local phonecalls cost 1 rouble a minute (from the public phones), phone calls to Moscow and other cities of central Russia cost around 5 roubles ($0.15).
The prices for foreigners are always the same as for Russians, except in some museums.
The prices for the food are the same as in other parts of Central Russia: bread - $0.20, milk - $0.6, yogurt - $0.6, water 1.5l bottle - $0.5, rice $1 for a pack, cereals $1-$1.5 for a pack, fruits - around $1.5 for a kilo, honey - $3 for a kilo.