Menashe Heights, a region of land in the center of Carmel, between Nahal Iron (Wadi Aara) in the southeast, Emek Jezreel in the northeast, Nahal Yakneam and Nahal Tut (Wadi Milah) in the north, the Carmel Ridge and Bekat Handev in the west. Its western part is low hills, which get higher and higher towards the east, where they descend sharply towards the Jezreel Valley. The average height of the area is about 250 meters above sea level and its highest peaks rise to a height of about 400 meters. There are many springs in the Menashe highlands, and some streams flow throughout most of the year.
Within the boundaries of the park there is a coniferous forest, a forest of the tabor oak, a mixed forest, agricultural and pasture areas, archaeological sites, streams and springs. Among the prominent sites in the park: Emek HaShalom, the Palmach Cave, the Kibbutzim Monument, Hashofet Stream, Givat Harkafot and more.
Most of Menashe Heights area is used as agricultural land or as pasture land, but in the stream channels and in some areas, the natural vegetation has been preserved. The animals include caracal, Israeli deer, falcons and reptiles. In 2006, the regional council started official procedures with UNESCO to recognize the park as a biosphere reserve. As of June 2011, the park was named "Ramot Menashe Biosphere Reserve".
The purchase of land by Zionist institutions began in 1917, when ICA purchased relatively small pieces of lands. In 1935, "Hachsharat Ha'Yishuv" and "Zur" began to purchase land in larger quantities.
Following the outbreak of the Arab Revolt in 1936, another wave of Jewish settlement began in the Menashe Mountains that continued until the establishment of the state with the aim of creating a continuum of Jewish settlements between the coastal plain and the Jezreel Valley. The first settlement was Joara. Before the establishment of the state, the hills of Ramot Menashe were used by the Haganah organization as a training ground, where the Haganah officers' course was also held.
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