CN Tower's honor threatened

The CN Tower in Toronto is the world's tallest free-standing structure. You learn this if you grew up in Canada, have been to Toronto, or have actually been in the tower.

Since I have been in the tower (I love heights), I note with pride that I have been in the world's tallest free-standing structure. Unfortunately, this may only be true until 2011. Plans for a communications tower have been unveiled in Tokyo.

The CN Tower is 553.33 meters (1,815 feet, 5 inches) high. The New Tokyo Tower is planned at 610 meters (2,001 feet).

Though people get to go up in the CN Tower, you don't actually get to the top of the tower. But the Lookout Level is 346 meters (1,136 feet) high.

Press reports have stated that the new tower will be fitted with observation platforms at the 350-meter and 450-meter levels. If that happens, the CN Tower will even lose that distinction. But for most of my readers, the CN Tower is closer, it's still there, and it's in Toronto.