Interlocking spur

Each of these spurs extends laterally into a concave bend of the river such that when viewed either upstream or from overhead, the projecting ridges, which are called spurs, appear to "interlock" or "overlap" in a staggered formation like the teeth of a zipper.

[1] While similar in general appearance, the mechanism behind the formation of interlocking spurs is different from that behind meanders, which arise out of a combination of lateral erosion and deposition.

Interlocking spurs are formed as either a river or stream cuts its valley into local bedrock.

As it entrenches its valley, it preferentially follows and erodes zones of weaknesses within the bedrock that typically consist of intersecting sets of joints.

This process creates a zig-zagging fluvial valley that "interlock" or "overlap" in a staggered manner.