Ipiales is a city and Catholic bishopric in Nariño Department, southern Colombia, near the border with Ecuador. It is located at around , with an elevation of about 2950 m. Ipiales is located on the high plateau called "Tuquerres e Ipiales," the city lies at a distance of 82 km from Pasto, the department's capital." Ipiales is known as "la ciudad de las nubes verdes" (the city of the green clouds) because sometimes, especially in the afternoon, greenish clouds appear over the city. One of the area's favorite foods is the guinea pig or cavy (Cavia porcellus), called kuy or kuwi. The economy of this city is based on border trade between Ecuador and Colombia. Culture and religion The municipality's main attraction is the impressive architecture of the Las Lajas Cathedral, the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ipiales. One of the biggest festivals is called the "Black and White Carnival". Through this event people from Ipiales celebrate racial diversity. People paint each other with make-up and a white soap, called careoca. Many tourists travel to see this event from all over the country. History The Rumichaca Bridge, according to Spanish chroniclers, was the northernmost outpost of the Inca Empire, wrested from the Pasto people in the early 16th century. The bridge, crossing the Carchi River, is from Ipiales on the border with Ecuador. Economy and transport The inhabitants of the town of Ipiales are as important economic activities: trade, small businesses, tourism, and in rural areas: agriculture, livestock, minor species. In minerals: oil on Churuyaco jungle, rock quarries and crafts in Las Lajas, topdressing in Old Bridge, clay in the Tejar. Natural resources are abundant throughout its territory. Ipiales a is land and air border port, with intense trade with the peoples of the former province of Obando and as crossroad for travelers from the Andean Pact countries, especially Ecuador, it is the second most important border in Colombia. There is wide legislation to control the flow of people and vehicles, with international treaties and agreements on economic and border relations in all social cultural and economic, the Neighborhood and Integration Commission Colombo - Ecuador 1989. Republic of Colombia. Neighbourhood Binational Commissions. The Border Integration 1993, the Border Act 1995. The Special Economic Zone Export 2000, to improve the economic, institutional and social of this region, but everything has been "good intentions", as there is no vocation