the rougher terrain of the east and west vs the rough terrain of the east and west

[anhnha]

Visitors to Prince Edward Island, Canada, delight in the "unspoiled" scenery - the well-kept farms and peaceful hamlets of the island's central core and the rougher terrain of the east and west. In reality, the Island ecosystems are almost entirely artificial.
Can I rewrite the bold phrase as follows?
"the rough terrain of the east and west"
Is "rougher" used to compare with the central core?

[5jj]

Visitors to Prince Edward Island, Canada, delight in the "unspoiled" scenery - the well-kept farms and peaceful hamlets of the island's central core and the rougher terrain of the east and west. In reality, the Island ecosystems are almost entirely artificial.
Can I rewrite the bold phrase as follows?
"the rough terrain of the east and west"

You could, but you would be changing the meaning. We are not told that it's rough, merely that it's rougher than then central core.