| Dakataua | |
| Elevation M: | 400 |
| Location: | New Britain, Papua New Guinea |
| Coordinates: | -5.0556°N 150.1083°W |
| Map: | Papua New Guinea |
| Type: | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic Arc/Belt: | Bismarck volcanic arc |
| Last Eruption: | 1895 ± 5 years |
The Dakataua Caldera is located at the northern tip of the Willaumez Peninsula, New Britain, Papua New Guinea. The peninsula includes the 350 m high andesitic Mount Makalia stratovolcano.[1] The last major collapse of Dakataua was during the Holocene around 800 CE.[2] The most recent eruption on the caldera's rim was Mount Makalia in 1890, producing lava flows and cinder cones.[3]
Dakataua's caldera lake is about 76 m above sea level; it has a total surface area of 48km2 and a maximum depth of approximately 120 m.[4] It is horseshoe shaped, roughly bisected by a peninsula.[1] It is a freshwater lake that is alkaline with a pH of up to 8.2. It is presumed to be formed by rainwater gradually filling in the caldera.[5] While the lake supports various kinds of life, it does not support any species of fish.[6]
There is a folk legend that a monster called the migo (or masali) inhabits the lake. In 1993 a Japanese film crew led by Tetsuo Nagata captured what they claimed to be the migo on film. It is presumed that the creature in the video is actually a saltwater crocodile from the ocean surrounding the lake.[7]