Top 10 Interesting Facts About the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada

The CN Tower is one of Canada's most iconic landmarks and a defining feature of Toronto's skyline. It has held multiple world records for height since its completion.

Alternative names:
Canadian National Tower, Canada's National Tower
The Top Ten
The CN Tower is 553 m (1,815 ft) high (equivalent of a 147-story building) and is the tallest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere. This tower can be seen from 60 km (37 mi)

This picture of Toronto's night skyline with the CN Tower in it is taken from Toronto Islands - several islands in Lake Ontario that are very close to the shore (1.7 km - 2 km. It's 15 minutes by ferry). Toronto Islands is the city's largest parkland and a great place to spend the day.

World's highest and largest revolving restaurant (360 Restaurant) is at 351 metres (1,152 ft) and completes a full rotation once every 72 minutes

These 360-degree views are truly incredible. While having a meal or drink, you can see the city of Toronto, Lake Ontario, its islands, and on a sunny day, you can even see some higher buildings in the US on the other shore of Lake Ontario.

The CN Tower is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Canada, with over 2 million international visitors annually
The CN Tower gets hit by lightning strikes an average of 75 times a year but has been withstanding this since 1976 when it was built

During a severe storm not long ago, the CN Tower was battered by six lightning strikes over a 30-minute period (i.e., every five minutes, on average). From 1976 to 2018, it was hit approximately 3,150 times (42 years x 75).

The Glass Floor at 342 m (1,122 ft) is a great amusement for thrill-seekers, but many people experience acrophobia when standing on it and looking down at the ground below

Even though you know the Glass Floor is safe, it may be scary to step on it and look down. In the image, you see somebody's feet - the person is taking this picture while standing on the glass floor and looking down. This floor can withstand a pressure of 4,100 kilopascals (595 psi). Its thermal glass units are 64 mm (2.5 in) thick, consisting of a pane of 25 mm (1.0 in) airspace glass, 25 mm (1.0 in) laminated glass, and a pane of 13 mm (0.5 in) laminated glass.

Next to the Glass Floor, there's a 360° outdoor observation deck, open to the public, at 342 metres (1,122 ft)

The outdoor observation deck entirely surrounds the main pod, the big sphere. The deck is pretty wide, and you can walk, sit, or stand on this deck and enjoy the 360° view. It's a great place to take pictures. Feel the breeze at 342 m (1,122') above the ground. It is safe because it is fully fenced to prevent falling. There's a wire fence from top to bottom.

The CN Tower is lit at night with 1,330 super-bright LED lights inside the elevator shafts, projecting different colors over the main pod and upward to the top of the tower

This looks very beautiful because the colors are constantly changing and the rays are moving up - every new color coming from the base of the tower replaces the previous one as rays move up. It is programmed from a desktop computer with a wireless network interface controller. The estimated cost to use the LEDs is $1,000 per month. PS. In the image, the darker spot on the blue light is actually an elevator.

There are 9 elevators, of which 6 are glass-windowed, with shafts lined with glass, allowing views of the city as the elevators ascend through the tower

In these elevators, you may feel your stomach in your throat.

The CN Tower is a concrete communication and observation tower completed in 1976, with a huge metal broadcast antenna on top (the antenna is 102 metres / 334.6 ft tall)

The CN Tower is used by TV and radio broadcasters, cellular and paging providers, and for communications (such as Toronto Public Transportation and traffic information).

An amusement called 'The EdgeWalk' is the most adrenaline-inducing experience the CN Tower offers. The EdgeWalk is the world's highest full-circle, hands-free walk, at 356 m (1,168 ft)

Thrill-seekers can walk on and around the roof of the main pod of the tower, which is right above the 360 Restaurant. Visitors are tethered to an overhead rail system and walk around the edge of the main pod on a 1.5 m (4.9 ft) metal floor.

The Contenders
The CN Tower holds the record for the world's highest glass-floored elevator, 346 metres (1,135 ft)

Three out of the six glass-fronted elevators have another thrilling feature - they have glass panels in a portion of each elevator floor! If you think it's scary to stand on the Glass Floor, wait until you take a ride at 22 kilometers (15 miles) per hour, with glass under your feet!

SkyPod (formerly known as "Space Deck") is the highest public observation point in the tower, located just below the metal antenna at 446.5 metres (1,465 ft)
The main deck level is seven stories tall, some of which are open to the public

The main deck or pod level is the big sphere of the tower. Open to the public here are: 360 Restaurant, the glass floor, outdoor observation deck, indoor observation deck, and its roof (for The EdgeWalk).

The CN Tower holds the world record for the longest metal staircase, with 2,579 steps
The tower holds the record for the world's highest bar, Horizons Restaurant, at 346 metres (1,135 ft)
There's also an Indoor Observation Level (later named Indoor Lookout Level), at 346 m (1,135 ft)
The main pod of the tower is featured on the cover of Drake's album Views

Where he sits on the cover art is not allowed. He is on the roof of the main pod where The EdgeWalk happens.

High-speed elevators take you to the top in only 58 seconds
The elevators' speed is 22 kilometres (15 miles) per hour
The CN Tower held the record for the world's tallest tower for 34 years, from 1975 to 2009, when it was overtaken by the Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China
The CN Tower held the record for the world's tallest freestanding structure for 32 years, from 1975 to 2007, when it was overtaken by Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
CN stands for Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower
In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers
The tower contains 40,500 m³ (52,972 cu yd) of concrete
The construction costs of approximately CAD $63 million ($260 million in 2016 dollars) were repaid in fifteen years
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