The people living in South America today come from many heritages: native ethnic groups who trace their ancestry back thousands of years; colonizers from Europe, mainly Spain and Portugal; slaves from Africa; immigrants from all over the globe, particularly from Europe, the Orient and other Latin American countries.

It's not uncommon to see children with dark hair and eyes playing with tow-headed kids with blue or green eyes, and have them all be citizens of the same country.

In these photos, arranged by country, you'll see people at work, at home, at play.

Remember though, when you travel in South America, get permission to photograph someone first. You may be asked to pay a fee in the poorer sections.

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

Paraguay

Peru

All photos thanks to ArtToday.com