| Kollaa River (Kollasjoki) | |
| Колласйоки, Kollaanjoki | |
| River | |
| Country | Russia |
|---|---|
| Region | Republic of Karelia |
| Source | Lake Kollasjärvi |
| - elevation | 117 m (384 ft) |
| Mouth | Lake Tulmozero |
| Length | 76 km (47 mi) |
The Kollaa River (Russian: Колласйоки, Finnish: Kollaanjoki or Kollasjoki) is a 76-kilometre 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. 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,[2] 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.[3]
The asteroid 1929 Kollaa is named after the river.[4]