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The Canadian National Tower or CN Tower or let’s say Toronto Tower is undoubtedly the most recognizable and celebrated icon of Canada.
The Toronto Tower is the signature face of Toronto’s skyline. If you have ever been to Toronto or Googled about the city, this 553m tower surely pops up among the photos. For those who dream of seeing the world from above, the Toronto Tower can serve well to your imagination.
Interesting Facts About the Famous Toronto Tower
Here are some facts you need to know about the Toronto Tower.
1. History
The Toronto Tower, best known as the CN Tower was originally referred to as “Canadian National” by the railway company that builds the tower.
They actually wanted to build a mega TV and radio communication platform to serve the whole of Toronto. The project became official in 1972.
After the construction of several skyscrapers in Toronto, especially the First Canadian Place, many broadcasting signals were compromised, which finally led to the construction of this massive tower.
2. Construction
The Toronto Tower was built by the Canada Cement Company, which is a subsidiary of Skanska, a Swedish global project development and construction group.
John Hamilton Andrews, Webb Zerafa, Menkes Housden, and an architectural firm named WZMH Architects made the dream project possible.
Construction for the tower began on February 6, 1973, and with rapid progress, it took only four months for the foundation to be ready for construction on the top.
The tower contains 40,500 m³ of concrete, which all was mixed on-site to ensure consistency and quality. On August 1974, using 45 hydraulic jacks, construction of the main level commenced.
The SpaceDeck or recently named SkyPod was built of concrete poured into a wooden frame with rebar attached at the lower level deck.
The CN Tower antenna was raised using “Olga”, a sky crane helicopter that flew the antenna up in 36 sections. The main pod was constructed in April 1975.
3. World’s Tallest Structure for Three Decades
The Toronto Tower did hold some prestigious records in the past time and some for quite a long.
The tower held the record of the World’s tallest free-standing structure for 32 years constantly until the Burj Khalifa of Dubai surpassed it in 2007.
It was also the world’s tallest tower until the Canton Tower of Guangzhou in China surpassed it in 2009.
Right now it serves as the World’s 9th tallest free-standing structure. The CN Tower remains the tallest free-standing structure in the whole of the Western Hemisphere.
Boasting a height of 553.33 meters (1815.4 feet) above the ground, this tower still gives a chill feel to people going to explore its charms.
4. Lighting That Illuminates the Tower
At night, when the Toronto Tower is fully illuminated, it attracts more eyes to it than anything in the city. Modern lighting systems have been introduced to illuminate the tower from top to bottom.
The tower also has an intelligent LED illumination system that is cost-efficient, energy-efficient, and provides a unique benefit i.e. lighting requests through its programmable LED architectural lights.
Those programmable lights have helped to raise awareness for many causes happening in the city and around.
Lighting begins at sunset till the next morning except for some special causes.
A standard lighting program in red and white with a short light show happens every night beginning at sunset which is to honor Canada.
Also from March 21st to June 20th, and from September 23rd to December 20th the lighting is decreased due to spring bird migration.
5. Romantic Getaway at the Rotating 360˚ Restaurant
Imagine how romantic and adventurous it will be dining at a height of 351 meters above ground level, with a magnificent view revolving around the whole of Toronto city!
360˚ Restaurant offers an unmatchable culinary experience, offering fresh market produce and some regional delicacies. The 360˚ is a rotating restaurant with a view repeating every 72 minutes.
More than 550 International and Canadian wines are placed in its “cellar in the sky”. It’s 1151 feet in the air, which makes it the highest wine cellar in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
One can choose from the a la carte menu or the prix fixe menu. The prix fixe menu offers a better value and more options where also you have the choice of two courses for CAD 65 or three courses for CAD 79.
The dining room is airy and offers scintillating views, bright with natural light during the day. Lots of vegetarian-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.
Canadian Steak and Lobster, Sauteed Foraged Mushrooms with Thyme, Maple Walnut Cheesecake, and Smoked Salmon are the popular dishes people talk about. Sure to try them!
One can also watch a baseball match happening in the Rogers Centre Dome from the 360˚ Restaurant.
Book a table for you and your loved one at the 360˚ restaurant here.
6. Dining at Horizon’s Restaurant and Le Cafe
If you’re visiting the Toronto Tower and want to refuel yourself but on a less pricey side, Horizons Restaurant and Le Cafe are great alternatives.
Though one might not be able to get the amazing 360-degree view of Toronto city, one surely will get a refreshing view of the city.
Horizons offers super tasty Toronto food on the LookOut level, from where you can enjoy a pretty spectacular view of the city, which to 346 meters above the ground. Only thing is that you’ll not rotate.
Reservations are not required for the Horizons restaurant, which makes it a reasonable choice for foodies on their tower visit.
Duck Confit Salad, Rainbow Trout, College Street Spaghetti, and Meatballs are some of the popular dishes enjoyed by visitors here.
Le Cafe is at the base of the tower making it a quick and casual bite for the visitors in or out, where guests will be able to purchase some freshly prepared food out of the oven and try the signature Ontario wine or the CN Tower Lager.
Le Cafe offers a wide range of selections that include pizzas, sandwiches, baked foods, freshly brewed coffee, and gourmet teas.
Marty G’s Savory Pies and the Pepperoni Pizza slices are favorites to the visitors. Gran Filtro Dark Roast coffee is a must-try.
7. Experience the EdgeWalk
For the bravest adventure-loving guests, the EdgeWalk is a body-chilling sensation that is the first of its kind in North America and the most thrilling attraction in the history of Toronto Tower.
It’s the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk on a 5ft wide ledge encircling the top of the tower’s main deck which is a whopping 356m above the ground.
Visitors can enjoy the breathtaking view of the whole city and horizon at the same time. Scintillating views of the Ontario Lake beneath them and the crisp little breeze on the cheeks enhance the experience of the EdgeWalk a forever one.
Trained EdgeWalk guides will help you to experience the best out of it. With the admission of 6 people at a time, the safety of the adventure-seekers is assured by a safety rail via a trolley and a harness system.
8. See the World from the SkyPod
SkyPod is one of the highest observation deck platforms in the world and is among the best in North America. It boasts a unique and refreshing view like no other. It stands at a height of 447 meters above the ground. The visibility is about 160 km away from Niagara Falls and New York state under normal weather conditions.
The SkyPod is a bit narrow, one might face some problems in clicking photos due to much crowd.
One can learn what happens when the tower is struck by lightning from the SkyPod and can see how the tower moves in the wind watching a pendulum.
Closing Thoughts
Here you learned interesting facts about the Toronto Tower. It’s no doubt the most popular landmark in Toronto or let’s say, the whole of Canada. The tower is a matter of pride for the people of Canada.
So next time you visit the tower or planning to visit, just do comment about what thing you enjoyed the most in the mesmerizing Toronto Tower.
Things For You To Do While You Are In Toronto
Here are a few suggestions for your peaceful visit to the tower,
- Try to get into the tower before 11 am. Crowds start to fill in around 12 pm.
- When it comes to Canada’s celebration destination none is more famous than the CN tower Toronto (Canada’s national tower) near lake Ontario. It is the tallest freestanding structure and it also hosts the world’s highest wine cellar. If you are willing to catch the night sky views, get in around 7 pm, as the crowds start to thin after 7 pm.
- If you’re visiting the Toronto Tower’s Glass floor when there’s too much crowd and right there you need to catch some breath of fresh air, head to the Outdoor Sky Terrace. There you’ll be able to feel the filthy wind in your hair.
- It’s better to book online for the EdgeWalk experience, as on-site bookings are subject to availability.
- The TorontoTower is closed only on Christmas, otherwise, it’s open 364 days a year. Standard visiting hours are from 9 am to 10.30 pm, but hours are extended on weekends.
- CN tower is Canada’s main communications tower in the metro Toronto convention centre. Owned by Canada lands company CN tower defining feature is its beautiful outdoor observation deck. You take the CN tower’s main pod to reach there, it is right next to the gift shop.
- You can save on parking fees while visiting the CN Tower. There are parking spots that charge around $5 – $20 flat rates, but if you can park your car at a commuter lot and take the subway downtown, it will surely cut you at a lower rate.
Last Updated on by Sanjana
