Sprawling across over 1.6 million square km in north-central Asia is a stunning country with vast expanses of untouched beauty. Yet it remains nearly "99.7 per cent empty" due to its sparse population in relation to its enormous land area. Mongolia , a landlocked nation largely comprised of grasslands and semi-deserts, boasts a rich history as the centre of Genghis Khan's vast empire, which once stretched as far as Europe . The capital, Ulaanbaatar, is home to about a third of the country's