The Latin American Tower was built in 1956, and at that time it was the tallest skyscraper in all of Latin America. It has been surpassed in height by many newer buildings in Mexico City, but it remains an iconic landmark. The structure was specially designed to withstand earthquakes, and it has come through the severe quakes of 1957, 1985, and 2017 without damage.
I have been to the top of the tower numerous times and went again last Thursday. I have posted pictures from the observation deck before, but this time I thought I would play a bit with the photos.
Looking toward the east the air looked quite clear even though the volcanos Popo and Izta were not visible.
Directly below and leading to the main plaza is Madero Street which was converted into a pedestrian street nine years ago.
Zooming in on Madero Street you can the people walking along the street.
Stretching along one entire side of the main plaza, the Zócalo, is the National Palace.
You can also see the tents for the market that was being held on the plaza as well as the large Mexican flag in the middle of the Zócalo.
To the side of the plaza is the Metropolitan Cathedral.
About a mile to the east of the Zócalo, you can make out the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro.
This modern building, inaugurated in 1981, is the meeting place of the Chamber of Deputies (the equivalent of the U.S. House of Representatives). It is named San Lázaro after the train station which used to stand on that location.
Beyond that, you can barely see the Mexico City International Airport.
The airport has reached the limits of its capacity, and a controversial new airport is being built beyond that on the old lakebed of Lake Texcoco.
Looking to the southwest, facing the afternoon sun, the view is not as clear and the city's smog is more visible. The World Trade Center, a skyscraper about the same height as the Latin American Tower, is the most prominent building.
The condo that I rent is just a block behind the World Trade Center.
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