What distinguishes the lunar highlands that dominate the far side terrain?
Answer
They are heavily cratered, lighter-colored terrain.
In stark contrast to the near side's maria, the far side is overwhelmingly covered by rugged, ancient terrain known as the lunar highlands. This surface is characterized by a much higher density of impact features, making it appear lighter in color than the darker basaltic plains facing Earth. This terrain represents the Moon's original crust, which has been subject to prolonged bombardment over eons. A prime example of this ancient, heavily scarred landscape is the massive South Pole-Aitken Basin found there.
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