The Shelon has its source in the swamps at the east of Pskov Oblast, close to the border with Novgorod Oblast. It flows northeast, then turns around and flows west. Around the urban-type settlement of Dedovichi the Shelon turns northwest. It further enters Porkhovsky District, and behind Porkhov turns north and then northeast. The Shelon crosses a short segment of Dnovsky District and returns to Porkhovsky District, crossing then to Novgorod Oblast. In Novgorod Oblast, the Shelon flows northeast and has its mouth by the urban-type settlement of Shimsk, forming an estuary.
The river basin of the Shelon comprises vast areas on the Ilmen Depression which administratively are located in Soletsky, Shimsky, and Volotovsky Districts of Novgorod Oblast, and in Porkhovsky, Dnovsky, Dedovichsky, and Bezhanitsky Districts of Pskov Oblast.
The Shelon is navigable downstream of the town of Soltsy, however, there is no passenger navigation.
History
The Battle of Shelon on July 14, 1471 between Muscovy and Novgorod Republic occurred between the town of Soltsy and the mouth of the Shelon. It ended in a victory for the Muscovite army led by Prince Kholmsky, and consequently resulted in the annexation of Novgorod by Muscovy in 1478.
References
^ abcШелонь. Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2022-06-26.