KARAKORUM TODAY
 Karakorum, the ancient capital
of Mongolia, was founded by
Genghis Khan in 1220. Half a
kilometer to the southwest of
its remains lies present-day
Khar Khorin on the banks of the
Orkhon river. Nothing indicates
that this sorry shantytown
with its 9000 inhabitants once
was the center of the most
powerful empire of its time.