How does the surface composition of the far side typically contrast with the near side's vast dark plains?

The far side is dominated by brighter, heavily cratered terrain known as lunar highlands.

The primary difference hinges on the presence or absence of maria. The near side is defined by these dark, smooth plains formed by ancient volcanic activity involving flood basalts. Conversely, the far side is overwhelmingly composed of the lunar highlands—brighter, older crustal material that has suffered relentless bombardment, resulting in a surface densely pockmarked with impact craters. The far side has only a few, relatively small maria features, such as Mare Moscoviense, making the highlands the defining characteristic of that hemisphere.