<P> Early in the new millennium, El Salvador's government created the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales--the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) and began promoting the integration of climate change into national policy . This move was in response to the increase in extreme weather events affecting the country . Initially MARN aimed to fulfil the country's obligations following its ratification of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto protocol However, since Hurricane Ida in 2009, the government's stance has shifted towards integrating risk reduction into all areas of policy, including financial . </P> <P> In a specific effort to increase the resilience of its economy and people to climate - related events, El Salvador commissioned a project in 2011 to develop and implement a National Policy and Strategy for Climate Change, which culminated with the launch of the National Environmental Policy in June 2012 and the National Environmental Strategy in June 2013, both incorporating climate change goals . This work was undertaken with support from the Climate & Development Knowledge Network . The government is now preparing action plans for putting the strategy into practice . </P> <P> El Salvador lies in the isthmus of Central America between latitudes 13 ° and 15 ° N, and longitudes 87 ° and 91 ° W. It stretches 270 km (168 mi) from west - northwest to east - southeast and 142 km (88 mi) north to south, with a total area of 21,041 km (8,124 sq mi). As the smallest country in continental America, El Salvador is affectionately called Pulgarcito de America (the "Tom Thumb of the Americas"). The highest point in El Salvador is Cerro El Pital, at 2,730 metres (8,957 ft), on the border with Honduras . </P> <P> El Salvador has a long history of destructive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions . The capital San Salvador was destroyed in 1756 and 1854, and it suffered heavy damage in the 1919, 1982, and 1986 tremors . El Salvador has over twenty volcanoes, two of them, San Miguel and Izalco, active in recent years . From the early 19th century to the mid-1950s, Izalco erupted with a regularity that earned it the name "Lighthouse of the Pacific ." Its brilliant flares were clearly visible for great distances at sea, and at night its glowing lava turned it into a brilliant luminous cone . </P>

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