Length 76 km Country Russia | Source elevation 177 m | |
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The Kollaa River (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.
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Map of r. Kollasyoki, Republic of Karelia, Russia
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. 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. The river and area are associated with the exploits of the Finnish marksman Simo Häyhä, the gunman with the highest number of confirmed kills in any major war. The battle areas around the river are a preserved monument and tourist site.
The asteroid 1929 Kollaa is named after the river.