Lake Valdayskoye, Lake Valdai (Russian: Валдайское озеро, озеро Валдай) is a freshwater lake, located in the center of Valdaysky District of Novgorod Oblast in Russia, in the middle of the Valdai Hills. It is one of the biggest lakes in Novgorod Oblast. The area of the lake (without islands) is 19.7 square kilometres (7.6 sq mi), and the area of its basin is 97.2 square kilometres (37.5 sq mi). The average depth of Lake Valdayskoye is 12 metres (39 ft) (the deepest point is 60 metres (200 ft)). The lake freezes up in early December and stays icebound until early May.