10 facts about CN Tower

As soon as you have a glance at Toronto’s skyline, CN Tower would probably be the first-ever thing to notice – thanks to its incredible height of 553.3 meters. Completed in 1976 and opened on June 26 1976, CN Tower was the tallest free-standing tower in the world until 2007. It took nearly 40 months for Canadian National Railway to build the CN tower. Presently, the tower belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers. Its SkyPod observation deck is among the highest observation decks in the world offering panoramic views of the city and beyond. The tower has an employee population of 1,537 workers working 24 hours a day, five days a week to provide seamless experience to every visitor. Tower also nestles 360 restaurant – a revolving restaurant that completes a full rotation once every 72 minutes – allowing diners to have a unique dine-in experience.

(Credit: CN Tower / Facebook)

With this, we’re done with the basic facts about the CN Tower! Now let’s move to the most interesting 10 facts about the CN Tower Canada, the tallest free standing structure in the western hemisphere!

Fact #1: The Tallest Free-Standing Structure in Western Hemisphere!

(Credit: World Federation of Great Towers / Official Website)

For 32 years, the CN tower has reserved the laurel of being the tallest free-standing structure in the world with a daunting height of 553.3 meters until 2008, when Burj Khalifa in Dubai surpassed it in height.

The tower also remained world's tallest tower until 2009, when Canton Tower superseded it. However, CN Tower still remains the tallest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere.

Fact #2:On a Clear Day, You Can See Niagara Falls atop CN Tower’s SkyPod!

(Credit: CN Tower/Facebook)

Thanks to its incredible height, you can see Niagara Falls from roof of the main pod on a clear day! On the other side, you can see the CN tower from as far as 40 to 60 kilometers depending on your direction.

The CN tower remains visible up to 40 km to the north of Aurora; 60 km to the east of Toronto; 58 km to the southwest of Toronto; 40 km to the west of Toronto; and 48 km to the south of Toronto.

Fact #3:Survives 75-80 Lightning Strikes Per Year!

Interestingly, CN Tower resiliently bears an average of 75 lightning strikes per year! In 2011, the tower was subject to record 52 lightning strikes in just 84 minutes. Well, there’s nothing to worry about as the tower is safe for visits even during the heaviest of the storms.

The tower is well-equipped with copper stripes running down to the grounding strips to prevent any damage from such massive lightning strikes.

Fact #4:Glass-Floor Can Withstand Weight of 35 Moose! 

(Credit: CN Tower / Facebook)

CN’s glass-door is five times stronger in terms of weight bearing capability than the strength commercial floors require, capable of withstanding weight of 35 moose at a time. Don’t worry! These glass floors are tested for their load-bearing capability every year (though not with the actual moose).

Fact #5:Takes 1776 Stairs (144 Flights) to Reach the Top! 

(Credit: CN Tower / Facebook)

CN Tower astutely uses its record 1776 staircase for fundraising twice a year, one for the World Wildlife Fund of Canada, and the other for United Way of Greater Toronto. Open to public twice a year, nearly 20,000 participants test their mettle at these stair climbs that helps raise $2.5 million annually.

Fact #6:Its Lookout Level Time Capsule Can Take Back to 1976

The time capsule in CN Tower’s Lookout Level would have it all to take you back to 1976 with local newspaper copies of its opening day, old Canadian coins, letters from schoolchildren, a letter from then-Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Side Note: The Time Capsule is scheduled for opening in 2076! 

Fact #7: Tower’s EdgeWalk Allows Darers to Lean Back Handsfree Over Toronto!

(Credit: CN Tower / Facebook)

Count Yourself Daring Enough? Test your mettle at highest full circle, hands free walk along tower’s five-foot-wide ledge, the EdgeWalk– of course with an overhead safety rail and harness system – allowing you to physically lean back for a once-in-a-lifetime view of the Lake Ontario.

Fact #8:Tower Celebrates Days with Fascinating Light System!

((Credit: CN Tower / Facebook)

CN Tower is equipped with an energy efficient, low-cost maintenance, and UV-radiation free, funky LED illumination light system that is used to adorn the tower with constantly changing colors on different days: on Earth Day it turns green, for Toronto Blue Jays's home opener it turns blue, for Mother’s Day it goes red & pink, and so on. Sometimes, awesome fireworks join the colors and make the tower a feast for the eyes!

Fact #9: Numerous Daredevils Have Actually Jumped from CN Tower!

Yes, you read it right! Numerous daredevils have attempted to jump from CN Tower. Stuntman Dar Allen Robinson jumped twice from the top of the tower – that too with just a wire decelerator. His first jump was paid with a whopping amount of $250,000 and the footage was used in the starrer movie “Highpoint”.

His second jump was used in a documentary. Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet – the French BASE jumpers – also jumped from the tower with a parachute during the shooting for Pan Am Games in 2015.

Fact #10 Nests Highest Wine Cellar in the Sky! 

(Credit: CN Tower / Facebook)

CN Tower also reserves the laurel of hosting the highest wine cellar in the sky at the 360 Restaurant, at a height of 1151 feet above the ground. For this, the tower made its way to Guinness World Records in 2006.

With these interesting facts, it is no wonder why CN Tower has been declared as the one of the 7 wonders of the Modern World. Eyeing a trip to this Canada's most recognizable and celebrated icon? Skim through our tours that offer hassle-free tours to CN Tower and other iconic locations in Toronto, and choose the one that best suits your time & budget!