Dakataua

The 10.5 x 13.5 km Dakataua caldera anchors the northern tip of the Willaumez Peninsula of New Britain. The latest episode of caldera formation occurred as recently as about 1,150 years ago, and was followed by at least five sub-Plinian or Vulcanian eruptions. A 12-km-wide freshwater lake whose surface is only about 50 m above sea level occupies the caldera. Two vertical fault-bounded blocks form topographic highs at the western and eastern sides of the caldera. A N-S line of post-caldera cones, explosion craters, and part of an arcuate inner caldera rim form a large peninsula that nearly bisects the arcuate caldera lake. The peninsula includes the 350-m-high andesitic Mount Makalia stratovolcano, the largest of the post-caldera cones, which last erupted during the late-19th century. A major submarine debris avalanche deposit NE of the volcano may represent edifice collapse prior to caldera formation. Thermal areas occur at several locations along the central peninsula.