What is it?
The CN Tower is a telecommunication tower that is also open to tourists and visitors like an observation tower. It is the tallest freestanding structure in the American continent, and a very popular tourist attraction and is visited by millions of tourists every year.
The name CN stands for Canadian National, the construction company for the tower (Building of the CN Tower). During 1995, the CN Tower was declared to be in the list of the wonders of the world. It has the honor of being in the list of the World Federation of Great Towers. At 1,815 feet in height, the CN Tower was technically the world's tallest building from its completion in 1976 until 2009.
However, the CN Tower was actually built for more practical reasons as well. A Canadian construction boom in the 1960s transformed the downtown area into a region of skyscrapers, causing a major telecommunications problem throughout the city of Toronto. With its microwave receptors located at 1,109 ft. and 1,815 ft, the CN Tower quickly solved the communication problems for the city, which had become a major concern for both businesses and residents (CN Tower).
The name CN stands for Canadian National, the construction company for the tower (Building of the CN Tower). During 1995, the CN Tower was declared to be in the list of the wonders of the world. It has the honor of being in the list of the World Federation of Great Towers. At 1,815 feet in height, the CN Tower was technically the world's tallest building from its completion in 1976 until 2009.
However, the CN Tower was actually built for more practical reasons as well. A Canadian construction boom in the 1960s transformed the downtown area into a region of skyscrapers, causing a major telecommunications problem throughout the city of Toronto. With its microwave receptors located at 1,109 ft. and 1,815 ft, the CN Tower quickly solved the communication problems for the city, which had become a major concern for both businesses and residents (CN Tower).
Where, When & How did it happen?
The construction work on the tower started in 1973 with large-scale excavations on the ground to provide the right sort of conditions for creating the base of the tower. The foundation of the tower was completed with the removal of 56,000 tones of dirt and shale up to a depth of 15 meters in the center portion of the base. Once this was done, the concrete base was created quickly within four months time.
The next activity was the construction of the main support pillar for the tower. This great piece of engineering work led to the construction of the support pillar of 6 meters on a daily basis. This pillar made of concrete was completed by February 1974.
The overall amount of concrete used to build the tower was around 40,500 cubic meters. The vertical accuracy of this CN Tower was achieved with the use of massive plum-bobs hanging from the tower (Building of the CN Tower).
The next activity was the construction of the main support pillar for the tower. This great piece of engineering work led to the construction of the support pillar of 6 meters on a daily basis. This pillar made of concrete was completed by February 1974.
The overall amount of concrete used to build the tower was around 40,500 cubic meters. The vertical accuracy of this CN Tower was achieved with the use of massive plum-bobs hanging from the tower (Building of the CN Tower).
How has it contributed to the Canadian Identity?
The Toronto Tourist Board estimates that approximately 2 million visitors head to the tower every year. The CN Tower was actually built in the hopes of demonstrating "the strength of Canadian industry by building a tower taller than any other in the world" (CN Tower).
It's a piece of national pride like the Empire State Building to Americans. Until Dubai, the CN Tower was the tallest free standing structure in the world; there was no man made object taller on the planet. Intangibles however include it's uniqueness and it's unique stamp on the sky line of our major city. Its a unique identifier similar to the tower in Seattle, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower or the Twin Towers of New York. When one sees the CN Tower they immediately know that it represent Canada in general, and Toronto in particular.
It's a piece of national pride like the Empire State Building to Americans. Until Dubai, the CN Tower was the tallest free standing structure in the world; there was no man made object taller on the planet. Intangibles however include it's uniqueness and it's unique stamp on the sky line of our major city. Its a unique identifier similar to the tower in Seattle, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower or the Twin Towers of New York. When one sees the CN Tower they immediately know that it represent Canada in general, and Toronto in particular.
Sources:
Images:
- "Building of the CN Tower." CN Tower Building and Construction History. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2013. <http://www.tccn.ca/articles/Detailed/Canadian_Construction_History/Building_of_the_CN_Tower_145.html>
- "CN Tower." , Toronto. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2013. <http://www.aviewoncities.com/toronto/cntower.htm>.
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