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!