The CN Tower has been deemed one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Built by Canadian National Railways, the tower opened in 1976 and remained the world's tallest tower and free-standing structure until 2010. At 1,815 feet, 5 inches tall, it dominates the Toronto skyline. It plays host to 1.5 million visitors annually, and attractions include the revolving 360 restaurant, a glass floor, observation pods and for the daring, EdgeWalk, which lets you walk outside 116 stories above the ground. At the foot of the CN Tower lies Rogers Centre, originally known as SkyDome. Opened in 1989, it has seating for up to 50,000 people, depending upon the event. It has the world's first fully retractable roof, which weighs 11,000 tons. With several restaurants, a hotel, fitness facility and shopping venues, Rogers Centre is a top tourist attraction in Toronto. Home to the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Argonauts, it also hosts numerous concerts, trade shows and other events. Since 2006, it has welcomed 3.5 million visitors annually.
Toronto is home to many old religious buildings, but one of the newest is attracting visitors from around the world. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir complex is a Hindu temple in Toronto that was constructed in 18 months using 24,000 pieces of marble and stone. It was built without using any structural steel and combines modern technology with traditional Indian architecture and modern technology. Downtown, nestled among shopping centers, hotels and office towers is the Church of the Holy Trinity and the nearby Toronto Public Labyrinth in Trinity Square Park. The church opened in 1847 and from the beginning was home to the poorest residents of Toronto. It has maintained a social justice focus, especially since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and has hosted the Toronto Homeless Memorial since its founding in 2000. The stained glass windows on the north side are old and traditional, while those on the south side tell the story of the fire that almost destroyed the church in 1977.
Old and new City Hall are situated across from each at the intersection of Queen and Bay streets. Old City Hall (actually the third city hall in the city) is now a courthouse and was designated as a National Historic site in 1989. The building, designed by Edward James Lennox, was the biggest municipal building in North America when it opened in 1899. Built of brown and gray stone, this immense structure has murals, carved gargoyles and a working clock tower. Across the street, the newer city hall opened in 1965 and was designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell. Many say the curved towers and round council chamber resemble a spaceship. As the province's capital, Toronto is also home to the Ontario Legislative Building. The fourth provincial Parliament building, at the meeting point of College and University avenues, is built of large, dark pink sandstone. The building is tucked inside a large urban park owned by the University of Toronto called Queen's Park, and most Torontoians refer to the building by that name as well. The color has given the circa-1893 building the nickname "The Pink Palace." It features Richardson Romanesque architecture that includes dome towers, intricate carvings, rounded arches and heavy stonework.
Although Lake Ontario is the smallest of the five Great Lakes - it's 193 miles long and 53 miles wide -- it is still the 14th largest lake in the world. Torontonians use the lake in the south and the CN Tower to orient themselves. Several islands created by eroded sediment from the Scarborough Bluffs form a natural harbor and are host to yacht clubs, an airport, amusement park, small homes and acres of parkland. High Park in the west end and Rouge Park in the east end host amusements and provide an oasis in the city. While High Park is only 399 acres, Rouge Park is North America's largest park at 10,000 acres and is 13 times bigger than Central Park in New York City.
