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" (''''), became a legendary motto for the Finns. 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. The battle areas around the river are a preserved monument and tourist site. The asteroid
1929 Kollaa is named after the river. ==References==