The CN Tower is one of Toronto’s most famous attractions. It is a distinctive marker of the skyline, a beautiful feature of the waterfront, and my favorite thing to look at during a break in action at the Blue Jays game.
The first time I went up the CN Tower I was around 9 years old. Since I have been afraid of heights since I was a small child the thought of going up the CN Tower was scary.
Now, I have been up at least 5 times and while I won’t be taking on the EdgeWalk anytime soon, I find the views amazing, the 360 restaurant superb, and the whole experience fun and exhilarating.
Here are a couple of our pictures:
The views from the top of the tower make visiting Toronto CN Tower an attraction that shouldn’t be missed. Check out this 15 Fascinating Facts about the CN Tower from About.com Canada Travel
- The CN Tower at 553.33 meters (1,815 ft., 5 inches) was once the tallest building, tower, and freestanding structure, but as of 2010 retains the title of world’s tallest tower.
- Construction on the CN Tower began on February 6, 1973 and wrapped up about 40 months later in June 1976.
- 1,537 workers toiled five days a week, 24 hours a day to build the CN Tower.
- The CN Tower was built at an original cost of $63 million.
- On April 2, 1975, onlookers gazed up in amazement as a giant Erickson Air-crane Silorsky helicopter placed the final piece of the CN Tower’s antenna into place, officially making it the world’s tallest building.
- The CN Tower was built to withstand an earthquake of 8.5 on the Richter scale (the Kobe earthquake in 1995 was 7.2 on the Richter scale). The upper reaches of the CN Tower were built to withstand winds up to 418 km/h (260 mph).
- In 1995, the CN Tower is designated a Wonder of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
- Lightning strikes the CN Tower an average of 75 times per year. Long copper strips run down the CN Tower to grounding rods buried below ground to prevent damage.
- The CN Tower dims unnecessary exterior lights during bird migration seasons to prevent bird injuries.
- The CN Tower is an incredible 2.79 cm (1.1 inches) within plumb, or, true vertical.
- Six glass-faced elevators travel at 22 km/hour (15 miles/hour) to reach the observation deck in 58 seconds.
- On a clear day, visitors to the CN Tower’s observation deck can see over 160 kilometers (100 miles) — that’s all the way to Niagara Falls and across Lake Ontario to New York State.
- The CN Tower has a hollow 1200′ hexagonal core providing stability and flexibility to the full height tower.
- The CN Tower’s Glass Floor was the first of its kind when it was opened in June 1994. It is 23.8 square meters (256 sq. ft.) of solid glass and 5 times stronger than the required weight-bearing standard for commercial floors. (Diazepam) If 14 large hippos could fit in the elevator and get up to the Observation Deck, the Glass Floor could withstand their weight.
- The 360 Restaurant makes a complete rotation every 72 minutes giving diners a changing view of Toronto more than 1,000 feet below.
More spectacular photos from the CN Tower:
Have you been to the CN Tower? What was your favorite part?
I was there once in 1995, i believe. I loved the views!
Dara recently posted..Tu B’Shevat School Projects and Letter of the Week Prep Week 9
lovely informative post I have been to the CN tower a few times and enjoy it each time :)
torviewtoronto createwithmom recently posted..Magic of winter: Snow tubing at the Horseshoe Resort
I’m putting this on my bucket list. It looks amazing and those views are fabulous. I’m going to show these pics to the kids at school. We don’t have anything like this in Trinidad, so it will be great for them to see. Thanks for sharing.
Tami recently posted..Introducing Sarabay Photography
Tami – love that you will show the pictures to your students. Can’t wait to hear what they think!
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..Perfect for a Winter Day: Carrot Soup
I have never been up. Not sure if I would have the courage to do it or not
ashley picco recently posted..National Blueberry Pancake Day
I haven’t been into the CN tower – I’ve only walked by it. The closest experience I’ve probably had is going inside the Calgary tower.
Cheryl recently posted..Tips for Planning a Surprise Party
I’ve walked by it a fair number of times, but but that’s it. Since I am afraid of heights, walking by is good enough for me :)
Jody @ Mommy Moment recently posted..OVERdone!
It is definitely worth going to and taking the ride up. Even if you’re afraid of heights (like I am) I do love how far you can see and how different the city looks from up there.
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..Perfect for a Winter Day: Carrot Soup
I have been several times (when I was younger) and although I am afraid of heights I’m ok with going up the elevator and walking on the glass floor. It’s the going outside on the observation deck and EdgeWalk that makes me nervous. Hopefully we can go together in June :)
Cheryl @ Kids On A Plane recently posted..My Walt Disney World Goal
We went last year and the kids had a blast. We played an alpahabet game where we tried to spot something that began with each letter of the alphabet. So luck to have it in our city!
I was in Toronto for the first time in November and loved it, but I didn’t get to the tower. So many things to see and do there… I will have to go back! Enjoyed your photos and descriptions :)
Kate recently posted..It Doesn’t Matter When You Start, Only That You Start
I went to Toronto with my parents when I was about 10. I remember the CN Tower. Also going for Chinese food. Despite living in NYC with all its Chinese restaurants, this was the first time I had sweet & sour pork, I was very impressed with it. Perhaps even more impressed than I was with the Tower, which can only happen when you’re a kid.
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