Toronto CN Tower

About the CN Tower

Toronto is the capital of Ontario and Canada's largest city, known for its iconic CN Tower - the tallest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere. The city combines modern urban development with natural beauty along Lake Ontario, featuring a diverse multicultural population and vibrant arts scene.

Construction of the tower began on February 6, 1973, when Canadian National Railway set out to solve a practical problem: downtown Toronto's new high-rises were interfering with radio and television signals. Workers topped out the 553.3-metre structure in April 1975, and it opened to the public on June 26, 1976. It held the record as the world's tallest free-standing structure for more than three decades, until Dubai's Burj Khalifa passed it in 2007, and that distinction tied the city's name to the skyline in tourist photographs and broadcast establishing shots. It still carries broadcast antennas, draws roughly two million visitors a year, and its exterior lighting is coloured to mark local events and commemorations.