<P> The CN Tower (French: Tour CN) is a 553.3 m - high (1,815.3 ft) concrete communications and observation tower in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada . Built on the former Railway Lands, it was completed in 1976, and held the record for the world's tallest free - standing structure for 32 years from 1975--2007 and was the world's tallest tower until 2009 being overtaken by Burj Khalifa and Canton Tower, respectively . It is now the third tallest tower in the world and remains the tallest free - standing structure in the Western Hemisphere, a signature icon of Toronto's skyline, attracting more than two million international visitors annually . </P> <P> Its name "CN" originally referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower . Following the railway's decision to divest non-core freight railway assets prior to the company's privatization in 1995, it transferred the tower to the Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation responsible for real estate development . </P> <P> In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers . It also belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers . </P> <P> The idea of the CN Tower originated in 1968 when the Canadian National Railway wanted to build a large TV and radio communication platform to serve the Toronto area, as well as demonstrate the strength of Canadian industry and CN in particular . These plans evolved over the next few years, and the project became official in 1972 . </P>

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