CN Tower

- Views from the inner and outer observation deck, SkyPod, Rogers Centre, Ripley's Aquarium, Railway Museum, Downtown views

CN Tower, built in 1973-1976, was the world's tallest freestanding structure in the world for 34 years, still without competition dominating the skyline of Toronto. It is, at a height of 553m to the top of the mast, still the tallest tower in North America, and the tallest tower in the western hemisphere, 3rd tallest tower in the world (Canton Tower in China and Tokyo Skytree are now somewhat taller), 6th tallest structure (Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest). The observation deck is a very popular attraction, it features both an indoor and an outdoor section, a glass floor, the Horizons Café and a revolving restaurant, called 360. Recently glass floors have been installed, so you can walk 342m above the ground and see the foot of the tower and the ground far down below, nothing to recommend for the ones afraid of heights! Even higher up, at the 147th floor, you can visit the SkyPod, a smaller observation deck with even better views and fewer visitors (unfortunately it was closed during our visit, and the ticket to the SkyPod is pretty expensive). The SkyPod is situated at a height of 446.5 m, just above the antenna, and only the observation deck at the Shanghai Financial Center is higher! It is also possible to take a walk on the edge and hang out from the building, called the EdgeWalk. Super fast glass enclosed elevators take you to the observation decks; while you take the ride up the city down below you appears smaller and smaller! The elevators also have glass floors, so you can look down on the elevator shaft!

It originated as an idea in 1968, when the Canadian National Railway (CN) wanted to build a new TV and radio platform for Greater Toronto, as well as demonstrating their strength. CN Tower is still far much higher then any of the surrounding skyscrapers.

Right next to CN Tower is the Rogers Centre, a huge sports arena that is famous for its roof that can be opened and closed according to the weather. It was built in 1989 and is 95m high to the top of the dome. In 2013, the large Ripley's Aquarium opened just next to CN Tower. There is a Railway Museum in Roundhouse Park opposite CN Tower. Some trains are placed outdoors, right opposite CN Tower. On the North side are the railway tracks, that you can pass above to Front Street with the PATH - Skywalk. CN Tower is only 3 blocks from the lakefront, separated by Bremner Blvd, Gardiner Expy and Queens Quay. Thus the tower is very visible on the skyline, when seen from Lake Ontario.

The tallest building in Canada (TV towers are not counted as buildings) is the 71-storey First Canadian Place (298m to the roof) from 1971, followed by Trump Tower from 2012 (277m to the spire) and the significant posmodern 68-storey red granite Scotia Place from 1988. In contrary to most other North American cities, a large number of skyscrapers downtown are not offices or hotels, but residential buildings. Currently (2016) Toronto is undergoing a huge building boom, the largest in North America right now; 137 highrises are under construction, of which 6 will have more then 60 floors. The tallest, Number One Bloor, a sleek glass scraper that was almost finished during our visit, will have 75 floors, with a roof height of 257m. It is situated at the intersection of Yonge/Bloor Sts. 22 of these skyscrapers will have 50 floors or more, thus completely changing the skyline of Toronto. And if you go just 5 years back in time, some of the tallest buildings today were not there!

 

CN Tower 01 - 553m high, world's tallest tower 1976-2010 CN Tower 02  - 553m high, world's tallest tower 1976-2010 CN Tower 03  - 553m high, world's tallest tower 1976-2010 CN Tower 04  - 553m high, world's tallest tower 1976-2010 CN Tower 05 - entrance CN Tower 06 - skyscrapers around CN Tower 07 - Ripley's Aquarium CN Tower 08 - people in line CN Tower 09 - Rogers Centre CN Tower 10 - Ritz-Carlton CN Tower 11 - Ripley's Aquarium CN Tower 12 - Delta Hotel, Ice Condos nearby CN Tower 13 - glass elevators CN Tower 14 - looking up CN Tower 15  - looking up CN Tower 16 - looking up CN Tower 17 - lobby CN Tower 18 - lobby CN Tower 19 - visitors corriod CN Tower 20 - LEGO model CN Tower 21 CN Tower 22 CN Tower 23 - the people in red are hoovering in the air at EdgeWalk CN Tower 24 - a symbol of Canada CN Tower 25  - a symbol of Canada CN Tower 26 - glass elevators CN Tower 27 - observation deck and Skypod Views from CN Tower 01 - Downtown, North Views from CN Tower 02  - Downtown, North Views from CN Tower 03 - Downtown Views from CN Tower 04 - Ritz-Carlton, Roy Thomson Hall Views from CN Tower 05 - Shangrila, Hilton, Sheraton, Doubletree hotels, City Hall Views from CN Tower 06 - First Canadian Place, Scotia Place Views from CN Tower 07 - Downtown, North, Rosedale Park Views from CN Tower 08 - Downtown Views from CN Tower 09 - Aura at College Park skyscraper, helicopter Views from CN Tower 10  - Downtown Views from CN Tower 11 - Hyatt Regency, Hilton Garden Inn Views from CN Tower 12 - Art Gallery of Ontario, Sharp Centre for Design Views from CN Tower 13 Views from CN Tower 14 - looking West Views from CN Tower 15 - Railway tracks to the West Views from CN Tower 16 - highway Views from CN Tower 17 - West Toronto, Mississauga Views from CN Tower 18 - towards Mississauga Views from CN Tower 19 - outskirts Views from CN Tower 20 - Yonge St, Bloor St skyscrapers Views from CN Tower 21 - NE skyline dominated by Number One Bloor and Aura Views from CN Tower 22 - Aura at College Park from 2015 Views from CN Tower 23 - Ontario Place entertainment area on islands Views from CN Tower 24 - Harbourfront, Rogers Centre Views from CN Tower 25  - Toronto Islands Views from CN Tower 26  - Toronto Islands Views from CN Tower 27 - Rogers Centre Views from CN Tower 28 - Toronto City Airport, Toronto Islands Views from CN Tower 29 - Toronto Islands Views from CN Tower 30 - Toronto City Airport Views from CN Tower 31 - Lake Ontario Views from CN Tower 32 - Indoor Observation deck Views from CN Tower 33 - Financial district, Union Station Views from CN Tower 34 - Outdoor observation deck Views from CN Tower 35  - Outdoor observation deck Views from CN Tower 36  - Outdoor observation deck Views from CN Tower 37  - Outdoor observation deck Views from CN Tower 38 - Glass floor, 342m high Views from CN Tower 39  - Glass floor, 342m high Views from CN Tower 40  - Glass floor, 342m high Views from CN Tower 41 - Glass floor, looking down the tower towards the aquarium Views from CN Tower 42 - Glass floor, looking down the tower Views from CN Tower 43 - Glass floor, looking down the tower Views from CN Tower 45 - Glass floor, looking down the tower Views from CN Tower 46 1 - Glass floor, looking down the tower towards the aquarium Views from CN Tower 47 - world's tallest tower for 34 years Views from CN Tower 48 - Toronto Dominion Centre Views from CN Tower 49 - Financial District with First Canada Place, Scotia Place, TD Centre Views from CN Tower 50 - Tram passing on the street Views from CN Tower 51 - people on the street Views from CN Tower 52 - Canadian Broadcasting Centre, middle Views from CN Tower 53 - North York skyline Views from CN Tower 54 - First Canada Place, tallest skyscraper, outskirts Views from CN Tower 55 - Old Toronto Views from CN Tower 56 - Residential suburbs Views from CN Tower 57 - Downtown business district Views from CN Tower 58 - wave effect Views from CN Tower 59 - miniature effect Views from CN Tower 60  - miniature effect Views from CN Tower 61 - miniature effect Views from CN Tower 62 - miniature effect Views from CN Tower 63 - miniature effect Views from CN Tower 64  - miniature effect Views from CN Tower 65 - Great Towers of the World Views from CN Tower 66 - glass floor of the elevator Views from CN Tower 67 - view from the glass elevator Views from CN Tower 68 - view from the glass elevator Views from CN Tower 441 - Glass floor, looking down the tower