The Concrete Giant, by J.C. Kavanagh

 

The award-winning trilogy, The Twisted Climb
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It's heralded as one of the top attractions in Canada and identified as one of the seven modern wonders of the world. Built to service communication needs and later, the city's tourism industry, Toronto's CN Tower, (Canada's National Tower), took just three years to build at a cost of $63 million Canadian dollars. Construction began in February 1973 and continued through each Canadian season, opening in June 1976. The final height is a dizzying 553.3 metres (1,815.3 feet) which includes the broadcast antenna portion of 96.1 metres (315 feet).

Me proving once again that taking a 'selfie' involves very little of 'self.'

There are no specific, numbered floors until you get to approximately 1,100 feet. That's when you're on the first of eight floors, with the top floor at almost 1500 feet. On these levels you will find several observation areas, including the fear-factor-inducing Edgewalk. At this point, 356 metres (1,168 feet), you are in the open air, harnessed to a steel bar above, and free to 'walk the circle' of the tower. You'll also find the Top of Toronto restaurant, billed as the tallest restaurant in the world. Here, views of the city are not limited to where you're seated: the restaurant completes a full revolution every 72 minutes.

For thrill-seekers, strap yourself to the Edgewalk on top of the main pod.
(Photo by Sergiu Dumitriu @wikimedia.org)
Would you do this?

Futuristic, science-fiction like photo of the CN Tower main pod under construction, 1975.
Photo by Robert Taylor, (Bobolink) @wikimedia.org

The engineers who designed the CN Tower originally called for a super-crane to raise the communications antennae up to the top. However, when a Sikorsky helicopter from a civilian operator became available, the 36 antennae pieces were lifted and positioned during a period of three and a half weeks, saving over six months of construction time.

Skycrane helicopter 'Olga' lifting one of 36 antenna segments, March 1975. 
(Photo by WikiPedant @wikimedia.org)

CN Tower is the 3rd highest freestanding tower in the world.

For 32 years (1975 to 2005), Toronto's CN Tower was recognized as the tallest freestanding structure in the world. With dozens of towers/buildings/structures vying the for this prestigious honour, the Guinness Book of World Records re-defined the definitions of 'tower,' 'free-standing,' and 'building.' In 2009, China's Canton Tower took the top honour of freestanding tower at 604 metres or 1,982 feet. Two years later, Japan's Tokyo Skytree became the tallest tower at 634 metres or 2,081 feet.

How many times will lightning strike?

According to the CN Tower's website, pictured above, lightning strikes the tower approximately 75 times a year. The metal components of the antennae attract lightning, so the engineers incorporated multiple copper strips into the structure, running from the top of the tower to the bottom. Because copper conducts electricity so thoroughly, the electricity that's generated from the lightning is drawn down the copper strips to the grounding rods buried below the tower. As a result, lightning strikes are safely and effectively discharged into the ground.

Visiting the CN Tower is a 'must' for anyone travelling to Toronto. If heights aren't your thing, there's always something happening at the Scotiabank Arena, or the Rogers Centre (formerly the SkyDome) and Ripley's Aquarium which is at the Tower's base. All within walking distance!

Below are the many faces of the iconic CN Tower (Photo credit: J.C. Kavanagh)

Until next time, stay safe and remember to tell the ones you love that you love them.

J.C. Kavanagh, author of
The Twisted Climb - A Bright Darkness (Book 3)
and
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends (Book 2) voted BEST Young Adult Book 2018, Critters Readers Poll and Best YA Book FINALIST at The Word Guild, Canada

AND
The Twisted Climb,
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016, P&E Readers Poll
Voted Best Local Author, Simcoe County, Ontario, 2021
Novels for teens, young adults and adults young at heart
Email: author.j.c.kavanagh@gmail.com
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