The Changing Face of Ulaanbataar

ULAANBATAAR, MONGOLIA - OCTOBER 26: Mongolian school girls wait in line to use the bathroom during a break from 2nd grade class at public school number 39 October 26, 2012 in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia. Some 100 years ago, Mongolia gained independence from Qing China, and more than 20 years ago it removed itself from the Soviet Bloc. Since then, the country has been undergoing massive social, economic and political changes. The Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine is Mongolia's biggest foreign investment project to date adding an estimated 35% value to the country's GDP. Mongolia is a land of amazing contrasts and is the most sparsely populated country on earth with fewer than 3 million people. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)