A wind, similar in origin to the sea breeze but generally weaker, blowing from the surface of a large lake onto the shores during the afternoon; it is caused by the difference in surface temperature of land and water as in the land and sea breeze system. In addition to area, the depth of the lake is an important factor; a shallow lake warms up rapidly and is less effective as the source of a lake breeze in summer than is a deep lake. Lake breezes are well developed around the Great Lakes of North America, where they temper the summer heat.