Volot

About the settlement. Volot District is a land of ancient history, traditions and customs. It lies in the southwest of the Novgorod Region on the watershed of three river groups in the Lake Ilmen basin: the Psizha and Perekhoda flowing directly into Lake Ilmen; the Snezh and Kamenka flowing into the Polist; and the Severka and Kolosh flowing into the Shelon. Near Lake Dolzhinskoye in the south of the district there was once a Krivichi settlement, probably inhabited by members of the Krivichi tribe migrating from areas of Belarus and Ukraine. Around 40 archaeological monuments survive in the district, with histories spanning centuries and possibly millennia. Fishing and farming were the main occupations. Flax cultivation developed actively around the village, station and settlement all called Volot. One theory connects the name with the word “volot” meaning thread or fibre. Other interpretations link it with the old word “voloty” — giants or mighty tall people. Volot District was first established as an administrative unit in 1927. It was restored within its present borders in 1965.