United States and Canada have joined forces to leave a resounding punctuation on Earth Hour’s call for action on climate change, as the global ‘lights out’ relay nears the end of its 24-hour cycle.

US:
With the official support of 33 States and with Earth Hour observed in all others, including the national capital, every state across the US has participated in Earth Hour’s global display of action on global warming.  

Earth Hour in the US enjoyed the support of governors from both sides of the aisle, mayors, state legislators, government officials, business, religious and community leaders, university presidents and teachers.

Lights went out at one of the best lit places on Planet Earth – the welcome sign and strip at Las Vegas, Nevada.  At least 45 other landmarks – from the Empire State building to the Golden Gate bridge – also marked the occasion.  They included the Art Deco masterpiece of the Chrysler Building in New York along with the United Nations building.

(lights out on the Las Vegas Strip)

In Washington DC, the National Cathedral and Smithsonian Castle, which houses the administrative functions of the Smithsonian Institution, observed Earth Hour while in the other Washington, the Space Needle in Seattle faded into the night sky.  The Queen Mary Hotel – a former Ocean liner – and Montezuma Castle, ancient cliff dwellings in Arizona, and Mt Rushmore, adorned with gigantic sculptures of US presidents, showed some of the range of monuments to turn off.

Canada:
For one hour a section of the border between Canada and the US was visually and symbolically removed, as a jointly coordinated switch off saw the iconic Niagara Falls disappear in the night. Nearly the last attractions to turn off in both countries were also notable suspension bridges completed less than a year apart – San Francisco’s Golden Gate (1937) and Vancouver’s Lion Gate (1938) bridges.

Canada has a tradition of strong Earth Hour support, and 2010, with some cites and towns taking part is no exception.  

Now in its second year an Earth Hour concert and street party held in downtown Barrie, Ontario, appears to have become a custom. The event itself is in keeping with the theme of Earth Hour - to keep it fun, and to raise awareness about climate change - and is kept lively by international acts as well as local buskers, musicians and artists.

In nearby Toronto, the CN Tower, the world tallest free-standing structure, again dimmed its lights for Earth Hour, in yet another almighty display of landmark action on climate change that has circumnavigated the world.

(Toronto skyline before and during Earth Hour: image credit - a&t photogrpahy)