Kollaa
Колласйоки, Kollaanjoki
Native nameKollasjoki (Finnish)
Location
CountryRussia
RegionRepublic of Karelia
Physical characteristics
SourceLake Kollasjärvi
 • elevation117 m (384 ft)
MouthLake Tulmozero
 • coordinates
61°40′19″N 32°14′01″E / 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

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.

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. 1 2 "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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