The bright, elevated regions of the Moon are called

• A. Highlands
• B. Marias
• C. Craters
• D. Rilles

Answer: (A)

On the Moon, the bright, elevated regions are the highlands. These areas are higher in elevation than the dark, smoother maria and appear lighter because they’re composed of light-colored rock (like anorthosite) that reflects more sunlight. The highlands are also heavily cratered, which is evidence of their old age and rugged surface. In contrast, the dark patches called maria are basalt-filled plains created by ancient lava flows that settled in large basins and have a smoother, lower profile. Craters are circular pits from impacts, and rilles are long channel-like features formed by ancient lava flow or tectonic processes. So, the bright and raised regions described are the highlands.