NOVGOROD, or Novogorod, a government of Russia, lying between N. Lat. 57. 18. and 61. 8., E. Long. 30. 10. and 39. 40.; and bounded on the N. by Olonetz, E. by Vologda and Yaroslavl, S. by Tver, and S.W., W., and N.W. by Pskov and St Petersburg; area, 46,833 square miles. The country is diversified with hills, valleys, plains, marshes, rivers, and lakes; the northern part is in general low and flat; but in the south the Valdai hills stretch for about 100 miles from S.W. to N.E., though these do not exceed 300 feet in height. The principal rivers are the Msta, which enters the government from Tver, flows north-west, and falls into Lake Ilmen; the Lovat, Pola, and Schelen, which fall into the same lake; the Volchov, which flows from that lake into the Ladoga Canal; the Schekona and Vologda, tributaries of the Volga; and the Sias and Buscha, which fall into Lake Ladoga. There are altogether in the government forty-two rivers, and fifty-five small, besides three large lakes. Of these last, the most extensive is the Bielo Ozero, or White Lake, in the north-east, which is 26 miles in length, about as much in breadth, and 432 square miles in extent. Lake
Ilmen, near the western extremity, has a length of 26 miles, a breadth of 16, and an area of 346 square miles; and Lake Vosche has a length of 14 miles, and an area of 177 square miles. There is a canal, 5 miles in length, connecting the rivers Msta and Volchov, by which navigation is carried on without passing through Lake Ilmen, as that extensive sheet of water is liable to dangerous storms. The soil in the southern parts is good and productive; but in the north it is very swampy, consisting for the most part of peat bogs. The climate is cold, and the winter long, lasting from November to May; while in the northern parts the cold is extreme, and the winter about a month longer than in the south. A large part of the land is covered with dense forests of pine, fir, birch, alder, elm, and other trees, which supply abundance of timber for export, and give shelter to great numbers of deer, elks, bears, wolves, lynxes, and other wild animals. The people are chiefly engaged in agriculture; and the principal crops are rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, potatoes, peas, flax, and hemp. Although there is much fine pasture ground, the inclemency and length of the winters prevent the rearing of more cattle than is necessary for farming; horses, oxen, and sheep of the common Russian breeds, and a few goats and pigs, are kept. Next to agriculture, fishing is the most general occupation of the people; it is carried on with great success on the lakes and rivers. Coal, iron, freestone, slate, lime, marl, &c., are among the mineral produce of Novgorod; and there are also good salt springs. The manufactures are not very extensive; and consist of coarse linen, soap, candles, potash, &c. Distilling, iron-smelting, and bell-making are also carried on. The exports of the province consist entirely of home produce, especially corn, hemp, flax, iron, timber, salt, hides, and furs. The principal place of trade is Novgorod, the capital. The government is divided into ten circles. Pop. (1846) 907,900.