Lake Ilmen in the context of Polist

The trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks was a medieval trade route that connected Scandinavia, Kievan Rus' and the Eastern Roman Empire. The route allowed merchants along its length to establish a direct prosperous trade with the Empire, and prompted some of them to settle in the territories of present-day Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The majority of the route comprised a long-distance waterway, including the Baltic Sea, several rivers flowing into the Baltic Sea, and rivers of the Dnieper river system, with portages on the drainage divides. An alternative route was along the Dniester river with stops on the western shore of Black Sea. These more specific sub-routes are sometimes referred to as the Dnieper trade route and Dniester trade route, respectively.

The route began in Scandinavian trading centers such as Birka, Hedeby, and Gotland, the eastern route crossed the Baltic Sea, entered the Gulf of Finland, and followed the Neva River into Lake Ladoga. Then it followed the Volkhov River upstream past the towns of Staraya Ladoga and Novgorod (where it met the Volga trade route and which became a major trade centre), crossed Lake Ilmen, and continued up the Lovat River, the Kunya River and possibly the Serezha River [ru]. From there, a portage led to the Toropa River [ru] and downstream to the Western Dvina River. From the Western Dvina, the ships went upstream along the Kasplya River and were portaged again to the Katynka River (near Katyn), a tributary of the Dnieper. It seems probable that once the route was established, the goods were unloaded onto land transport to cross the portage and reloaded onto other waiting ships on the Dnieper. Along the Dnieper, the route crossed several major rapids and passed through Kiev. After entering the Black Sea, it followed its west coast to Constantinople.

The Rus', also known as Russes, were a people in early medieval Eastern Europe. The scholarly consensus holds that they were originally Norsemen, mainly originating from present-day Sweden, who settled and ruled along the river-routes between the Baltic and the Black Seas from around the 8th to 11th centuries AD.

The two original centres of the Rus' were Ladoga (Aldeigja), founded in the mid-8th century, and Rurikovo Gorodische (Holmr), founded in the mid-9th century. The two settlements were situated at opposite ends of the Volkhov River, between Lake Ilmen and Lake Ladoga, and the Norsemen likely called this territory Gardar. From there, the name of the Rus' was transferred to the Middle Dnieper, and the Rus' then moved eastward to where the Finnic tribes lived and southward to where the Slavs lived.

Veliky Novgorod (/vəˈliːki ˈnɒvɡərɒd/ və-LEE-kee NOV-gə-rod; Russian: Великий Новгород, IPA: [vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət]; lit. 'Great Newtown'), also known simply as Novgorod (Новгород), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the oldest cities in Russia, being first mentioned in the 9th century. The city lies along the Volkhov River just downstream from its outflow from Lake Ilmen and is situated on the M10 federal highway connecting Moscow and Saint Petersburg. UNESCO recognized Novgorod as a World Heritage Site in 1992. The city has a population of 224,286 (2021 census).

At its peak during the 14th century, the city was the capital of the Novgorod Republic and was one of Europe's largest cities. The "Великий" (Veliky) part was added to the city's name in 1999.

The Volkhov (/ˈvɔːlxɒv/ VAWL-khov; Russian: Волхов [ˈvoɫxəf]; Veps: Olhav) is a river in Novgorodsky and Chudovsky Districts of Novgorod Oblast and Kirishsky and Volkhovsky Districts of Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia. The Volkhov, which forms part of the basin of the Neva, is the only outflow of Lake Ilmen, and connects it with Lake Ladoga. The length of the Volkhov is 224 kilometres (139 mi), and the area of its drainage basin is 80,200 square kilometres (31,000 sq mi). The city of Veliky Novgorod, the towns of Kirishi, Volkhov and Novaya Ladoga, and the historically important village of Staraya Ladoga are located along the Volkhov.

The Lovat (Belarusian: Ловаць, romanized: Lovac', IPA: [ˈɫovatsʲ]; Russian: Ло́вать) is a river in Vitebsk Oblast of Belarus, Usvyatsky, Velikoluksky, and Loknyansky Districts, as well as of the city of Velikiye Luki, of Pskov Oblast and Kholmsky, Poddorsky, Starorussky, and Parfinsky Districts of Novgorod Oblast in Russia. The source of the Lovat is Lake Lovatets in northeastern Belarus, and the Lovat is a tributary of Lake Ilmen. Its main tributaries are the Loknya (left), the Kunya (right), the Polist (left), the Redya (left), and the Robya (right). The towns of Velikiye Luki and Kholm, as well as the urban-type settlement of Parfino, are located on the banks of the Lovat.

From the source, the Lovat flows in the southeastern direction along the border between Russia and Belarus, it turns north and enters Pskov Oblast of Russia, crossing the border as Lake Sesito. In this area, the Lowat flows through the lake district, passing, in particular, Lake Vorokhobskoye. Downstrean of Velikiye Luki, in the selo of Podberezye, the Lovat turns northwest and enters Novgorod Oblast. Close to Lake Ilmen, the Lovat shares a river delta with the Pola and the Polist, though technically Polist is counted as a tributary of the Lovat.

Rurikovo Gorodische (Russian: Рю́риково Городи́ще, romanized: Ryúrikovo Gorodíshche, IPA: [ˈrʲʉrʲɪkəvə ɡərɐˈdʲiɕːə], lit. 'Rurik's Hillfort'), the primary settlement in the area known in Scandinavian sources as Holmgård, was the 9th century predecessor of Veliky Novgorod. The archaeological site is 2 km to the south of the current city center, across from Yuriev Monastery where the Volkhov River flows out of Lake Ilmen. Part of the Novgorod World Heritage site, it includes the original residence of the princes of Novgorod, connected with the names of many famous political figures of ancient Russia.

Novgorodsky District (Russian: Новгородский район) is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the twenty-one in Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is located in the southwest of the oblast and borders with Tosnensky District of Leningrad Oblast in the north, Chudovsky District in the northeast, Malovishersky District in the east, Krestetsky District in the southeast, Shimsky District in the southwest, Batetsky District in the west, and with Luzhsky District of Leningrad Oblast in the northwest. In the south, the district is limited by Lake Ilmen. The area of the district is 4,600 square kilometers (1,800 sq mi). Its administrative center is the city of Veliky Novgorod (which is not administratively a part of the district). Population: 57,673 (2010 census); 58,622 (2002 Census); 55,491 (1989 Soviet census). In terms of both area and population, this is the largest district in Novgorod Oblast.

The Novgorod Detinets (Russian: Новгородский детинец, romanized: Novgorodskiy detinets), also known as the Novgorod Kremlin (Russian: Новгородский кремль, romanized: Novgorodskiy kreml'), is a fortified complex (detinets) in Veliky Novgorod, Russia. It stands on the left bank of the Volkhov River about two miles north of where it empties out of Lake Ilmen.

Starorussky District (Russian: Старору́сский райо́н) is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the twenty-one in Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is located in the southwest of the oblast and borders with Parfinsky District in the east, Demyansky and Maryovsky Districts in the southeast, Poddorsky District in the southwest, Volotovsky District in the west, and with Shimsky District in the northwest. From the north, the district is limited by Lake Ilmen. The area of the district is 3,111 square kilometers (1,201 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Staraya Russa (which is not administratively a part of the district). Population: 15,063 (2010 census); 16,214 (2002 Census); 18,505 (1989 Soviet census).

The Redya (Russian: Редья) is a river in Kholmsky, Poddorsky, Starorussky, and Parfinsky Districts of Novgorod Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Lovat. It is 146 kilometres (91 mi) long, and the area of its basin 671 square kilometres (259 sq mi).

The source of the Redya is in Lake Rdeyskoye in Kholmsky District. The upper course of the river, including Lake Rdeyskoye, is located within Rdeysky Nature Reserve, which is a vast swampy unpopulated area. The Redya flows northeast. Several initial kilometers of its course are located in Kholmsky District, after which the Redya crosses over to Poddorsky District. The district administrative center, the selo of Poddorye, is located on the left bank of the Redya. Downstream of Poddorye, the Redya crosses into Starorussky District. In this area, the Redya is one of many sizeable rivers flowing northeast over the Ilmen Depression, towards Lake Ilmen. The course of the Redya is confined between the courses of the Lovat (east) and the Porusya (west). For approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi), the Redya forms the boundary between Starorussky and Parfinsky Districts. In its lower course, it departs from the boundary back into Starorussky District and joins the Lovat, forming a joint delta with the Lovat, the Pola, and the Polist.

The Pola (Russian: Пола́) is a river in Andreapolsky and Penovsky Districts of Tver Oblast and Maryovsky, Demyansky, and Parfinsky Districts of Novgorod Oblast in Russia. It is a tributary of Lake Ilmen. It is 267 kilometres (166 mi) long, and the area of its basin 74,200 square kilometres (28,600 sq mi). The principal tributaries of the Pola are the Maryovka, Kamenka, Yavon, and Polomet rivers, all from the right.

The source of the Pola is located in the Valdai Hills, at the border between Andreapolsky and Penovsky Districts of Tver Oblast, southwest of the village of Pyatygino. It flows north, making the border between these districts, and enters Novgorod Oblast. The Pola accepts the Maryovka River from the right and turns east, then it accepts the Kamenka River from the right and turns north. In the village of Veliky Zavod the river makes a loop, and at the tip of the loop, in the village of Novoye Sokhnovo, it accepts the Yavon River from the right. In Novoye Sokhnovo the Pola turns west and in the village of Kostkovo it accepts the Polomet River, also from the right. Downstream from the mouth of the Polomet, the Pola turns northwest. Close to Lake Ilmen, the Pola shares a river delta with the Lovat and the Polist.

The St. George's (Yuriev) Monastery (Russian: Юрьев монастырь, romanized: Yur'ev monastyr') is usually cited as Russia's oldest monastery. It stands in 5 kilometers south of Novgorod on the left bank of the Volkhov River near where it flows out of Lake Ilmen. The monastery used to be the most important in the medieval Novgorod Republic. It is part of the World Heritage Site named Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings.