Kollaa

The Kollaa (Russian: Колласйоки, Finnish: Kollaanjoki or Kollasjoki) is a 76-kilometre (47 mi) long river in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. It starts from Lake Kollasjärvi in the Suoyarvsky District and flows to Lake Tulmozero (Finnish: Tulemajärvi) in the Pryazhinsky District.

Kollaa
Колласйоки, Kollaanjoki
Native nameKollasjoki (Finnish)
Location
CountryRussia
RegionRepublic of Karelia
Physical characteristics
SourceLake Kollasjärvi
 • elevation117 m (384 ft)
MouthLake Tulmozero
 • coordinates
61.672°N 32.2337°E / 61.672; 32.2337
Length76 km (47 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionLake Tulmozero→ Tulemayoki→ Lake Ladoga→ Neva→ Gulf of Finland
Road R21 crosses the river at Kolatselga

Before World War II, the source of the river was a part of the Finnish municipality Suistamo and it flowed further through Suojärvi to Tulemajärvi on the Russian side.

Battle

During the Winter War in 1939, the area was a scene of the Battle of Kollaa.[1] The river became part of Finnish history, as the Red Army failed to break through there. A memorable quote, "Kollaa holds" (Kollaa kestää), became a legendary motto for the Finns.[1] The river and area are associated with the exploits of the Finnish marksman Simo Häyhä, dubbed "the White Death",[2] the gunman with the highest number of confirmed kills in any major war. Captain Aarne Juutilainen, dubbed "the Terror of Morocco", was also remarkable figure in the battle.[3] The battle areas around the river are a preserved monument and tourist site.[4]

The asteroid 1929 Kollaa is named after the river.[5]

References
  1. "Battles: Ladoga Karelia Area" (Film microsite). Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia. Indiana, United States: Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting (WYFI). Retrieved 2010-01-19. on December 7th [1939] elements of the Soviet 56th Division reached the area of the Kollaa River. ... the Kollaa River area was the location the Finns were forced to make their stand.
  2. Snodgrass, Brent (2002-04-07). "Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä during the Winter War". Mosin Man's Military Surplus Firearms. Retrieved 2010-01-19. Simo Häyhä was called into action during the Winter War with his service under the 6th Company of JR 34 on the Kollaa River.
  3. YLE: Marokon Kauhu nousi legendaksi Kollaalla (in Finnish)
  4. "On Both Sides of Kollaa. From the Past to the Present". Republic of Karelia: The State Centre for the Protection and Management of the Historic and Cultural Monuments of the Ministry of Culture. 2004. Archived from the original on 2011-08-22. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  5. "1929 Kollaa (1939 BS)". JPL Small-Body Database Browser. California, United States: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2010-01-19. Named for a river in Karelia, scene of violent battles during the Finnish winter war.



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