The Malaya Kokshaga (Mari: Изи Какшан, Izi Kakšan; Russian: Малая Кокша́га, literally Little Kokshaga) is a river in Mari El, a left tributary of the Volga. It is 194 kilometres (121 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 5,160 square kilometres (1,990 sq mi). It originates in the northern part of the republic, passes through its capital, Yoshkar-Ola, and flows to the Kuybyshev Reservoir, Volga near Kokshaysk. The Malaya Kokshaga is mainly fed by snow. From November till April, the river is frozen. The riverbed is meandering; there are many former river beds in the valley. The main tributary is the Maly Kundysh.
Malaya Kokshaga above Yoshkar Ola
