The Zapadnaya Litsa (Russian: Западная Лица ; German: Sapadnaja Liza ; Finnish: Litsajoki) is a river in the north of the Kola Peninsula in Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It is 101 kilometres (63 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 1,690 square kilometres (650 sq mi).[1] The Zapadnaya Litsa River originates on the Kuchintundra and flows into the Barents Sea. Its biggest tributary is the Lebyazhka River.
"Memorial for the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic" on the Litsa River
From 1941 to 1944, the Litsa River formed the Arctic frontline between German and Finnish troops west of the river – trying to capture Murmansk – and Soviet troops on the east, defending the city. This frontier was of vital importance for both sides, as Murmansk was the only Soviet harbour left in Europe and the northern route to Murmansk and Arkhangelsk supplied the Soviet Union with approximately 25% of all lend-lease aid.[2] During the stalemate that lasted four years, thousands perished in the tundras on both sides of the river. At the time the Litsa valley was called Death Valley (Долина смерти, Dolina smerti) by the Soviets; though later the expression Valley of Honor (Долина славы, Dolina slavy) became fashionable. The defense of Murmansk succeeded; the Germans never reached the city and the supply lines were not seriously interrupted, although the Germans bombed Murmansk to rubble from occupied Norway. See also: Operation Silver Fox and Operation Platinum Fox. The remains of the WW II fighting (trenches, pillboxes, defense pits etc.) can be visited with some specialised travel agencies.[3][4]
Memorial for the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic on Litsa River (images)
Grave with helmet and flowers
Memorial No. 1
Memorial No. 2
Messages by fallen soldiers
List of names of the fallen
References
^"Река Западная Лица (Большая Лица) in the State Water Register of Russia". textual.ru (in Russian).
^http://www.feldgrau.com/econo.html Of all the lend-lease aid, approximately 50% was delivered via the Pacific, 25% via Persia and 25% via the northern route to Archangel and Murmansk.
^. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
^. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
August 21, 2023
zapadnaya, litsa, river, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, zapadnaya, litsa, river, news, newspapers, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Zapadnaya Litsa river news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Zapadnaya Litsa Russian Zapadnaya Lica German Sapadnaja Liza Finnish Litsajoki is a river in the north of the Kola Peninsula in Murmansk Oblast Russia It is 101 kilometres 63 mi long and has a drainage basin of 1 690 square kilometres 650 sq mi 1 The Zapadnaya Litsa River originates on the Kuchintundra and flows into the Barents Sea Its biggest tributary is the Lebyazhka River Zapadnaya LitsaMouth of the Zapadnaya LitsaNative nameZapadnaya Lica Russian LocationCountryRussiaRegionMurmansk OblastPhysical characteristicsSource locationKuchintundra elevation250 m 820 ft MouthBarents Sea coordinates69 25 37 N 32 16 50 E 69 42694 N 32 28056 E 69 42694 32 28056Length101 km 63 mi Basin size1 690 km2 650 sq mi Memorial for the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic on the Litsa RiverFrom 1941 to 1944 the Litsa River formed the Arctic frontline between German and Finnish troops west of the river trying to capture Murmansk and Soviet troops on the east defending the city This frontier was of vital importance for both sides as Murmansk was the only Soviet harbour left in Europe and the northern route to Murmansk and Arkhangelsk supplied the Soviet Union with approximately 25 of all lend lease aid 2 During the stalemate that lasted four years thousands perished in the tundras on both sides of the river At the time the Litsa valley was called Death Valley Dolina smerti Dolina smerti by the Soviets though later the expression Valley of Honor Dolina slavy Dolina slavy became fashionable The defense of Murmansk succeeded the Germans never reached the city and the supply lines were not seriously interrupted although the Germans bombed Murmansk to rubble from occupied Norway See also Operation Silver Fox and Operation Platinum Fox The remains of the WW II fighting trenches pillboxes defense pits etc can be visited with some specialised travel agencies 3 4 Memorial for the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic on Litsa River images Edit Grave with helmet and flowers Memorial No 1 Memorial No 2 Messages by fallen soldiers List of names of the fallenReferences Edit Reka Zapadnaya Lica Bolshaya Lica in the State Water Register of Russia textual ru in Russian http www feldgrau com econo html Of all the lend lease aid approximately 50 was delivered via the Pacific 25 via Persia and 25 via the northern route to Archangel and Murmansk Cycling Inside the Arctic Circle KP 05 DETAILED ITINERARY Archived from the original on July 20 2011 Retrieved September 6 2010 Tours in Russia Archived from the original on November 7 2010 Retrieved September 6 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zapadnaya Litsa river amp oldid 1105545399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
