(Source: http://otzivy.info/publ/russia/valdaj)

“Valda” translated from Finno-Ugric means “light, clean”. Apparently, the crystal-clear water of the local lakes gave the name to the town and its surroundings.

The status of a town was granted to Valdai by the Decree of the Empress Catherine II in 1770. Since then Valdai began to receive a large amount of travelers, it is famous for its bustling fairs, bells and pristine beauty of local places.

The Valdai land is famous for birth and residency of such famous people as N.N. Miklukho-Maklai, P.S. Komarov, V. Bianki. The composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, painters L.I. Levitan, U.F. Benois, famous Russian publicist Mikhail Osipovich Menshikov (who had a Manor at this place) lived and worked here for a long time. And Menshikov was also shot by KGB servicemen at Pryozerny side-street, on the coast of Valdai Lake in 1918.