白(bai)(bai)(bai)云山(shan)主峰海拔983米,奇石如垛,白(bai)(bai)(bai)云繚繞,俗稱白(bai)(bai)(bai)貌垛。明(ming)嘉靖《南陽府志·山(shan)川·泌(mi)陽縣》的記載(zai)是:“白(bai)(bai)(bai)貌垛山(shan),在縣東七十里,山(shan)之奇峰秀(xiu)麗,常有(you)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云舒(shu)卷故名”。清《泌(mi)陽縣志》具體(ti)描述為:“白(bai)(bai)(bai)茅堵(垛),在縣東北七十里,山(shan)勢雄偉,俯環群山(shan),天陰雨必興云霧(wu)。山(shan)后有(you)龍(long)潭。相傳山(shan)上有(you)白(bai)(bai)(bai)茅大(da)仙。每(mei)逢歲旱(han),鄉人無論遠近(jin),皆往祈雨,有(you)求輒應,屢著靈(ling)異。又名白(bai)(bai)(bai)云山(shan)。”
白(bai)云山古老(lao)而神奇。歷(li)史上(shang),以其滿山青翠、如龍(long)(long)(long)在臥而曾名青龍(long)(long)(long)山。自白(bai)貌(mao)(mao)垛向(xiang)東北(bei)綿延至確山境,宛若一(yi)條(tiao)巨龍(long)(long)(long),白(bai)貌(mao)(mao)垛正是昂(ang)起的(de)龍(long)(long)(long)首,石垛儼然是龍(long)(long)(long)角(jiao),槍桿嶺(ling)一(yi)如龍(long)(long)(long)須,龍(long)(long)(long)口(kou)噴吐著云霧飛(fei)(fei)瀑(pu)(九龍(long)(long)(long)瀑(pu)),龍(long)(long)(long)尾翹(qiao)立在平疇綠野(樂山),一(yi)派意欲騰飛(fei)(fei)、活靈活現的(de)蒼龍(long)(long)(long)容貌(mao)(mao),古人以“貌(mao)(mao)朵龍(long)(long)(long)容”列為(wei)泌陽八景之(zhi)一(yi),載入《南陽府志》。尤為(wei)神奇的(de)是,在這條(tiao)巨龍(long)(long)(long)身旁有龍(long)(long)(long)盤山、桂花山、羅(luo)漢頂、大頂子、城(cheng)頂山、棋盤、蜀(shu)山、掛旗山、千年嶺(ling)諸峰盤桓來朝,如龍(long)(long)(long)拱衛;有黃龍(long)(long)(long)潭、黑龍(long)(long)(long)潭、響水潭、白(bai)龍(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)、火(huo)龍(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)、立陡溝泉(quan)、響石棚泉(quan)等(deng)眾(zhong)水相向(xiang),潤澤滋養。可謂九龍(long)(long)(long)蟠曲,祥瑞紛呈(cheng)。
傳(chuan)說(shuo)遠古時候,這(zhe)里是一(yi)片深海,與(yu)東海相(xiang)連。天塌地陷以后,海水(shui)迅速東泄,這(zhe)里的(de)老(lao)(lao)龍王把宮中金銀珠寶裝了(le)一(yi)船(chuan),與(yu)龍子龍孫一(yi)起隨水(shui)搬家。太白金星見狀急奏玉皇大(da)帝(di):中原寶貝不能(neng)流失東海。遂作法(fa)退水(shui),寶船(chuan)擱淺在今東雙(shuang)山(shan)老(lao)(lao)爺廟(miao)處,大(da)橡樹(shu)就是大(da)船(chuan)桅(wei)桿。老(lao)(lao)龍與(yu)子孫也化石為山(shan),構了(le)如今的(de)白云山(shan)系。
神(shen)話見證著歷(li)(li)史。25億年(nian)前,太古(gu)界地層出露桐柏(bo)山群(qun),分布在(zai)羊冊—王店大(da)斷(duan)裂以北(bei)華山水庫—宋(song)溝、竹林—白(bai)(bai)云山一帶。歷(li)(li)元古(gu)界—新生界,經中條、王屋、燕(yan)山構造運動(dong),地層發(fa)生變(bian)質(zhi)、褶皺和斷(duan)裂,產生不同成因的(de)(de)巖漿活動(dong),形成白(bai)(bai)云山現在(zai)的(de)(de)地質(zhi)地貌(mao)。
白(bai)(bai)云山(shan)(shan)(shan)雄(xiong)壯(zhuang)(zhuang)而(er)(er)(er)質樸。山(shan)(shan)(shan)體呈東北——西南走(zou)向(xiang),與桐柏(bo)山(shan)(shan)(shan)主峰(feng)(feng)太(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)(ding)遙(yao)遙(yao)相望,成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)豫(yu)南雙峰(feng)(feng)星座(zuo),高大深厚,威(wei)武雄(xiong)壯(zhuang)(zhuang)。民間(jian)傳(chuan)說(shuo)當初(chu)太(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)(ding)與白(bai)(bai)云山(shan)(shan)(shan)相約一(yi)(yi)(yi)同往高處(chu)長(chang),看誰(shui)長(chang)得又(you)快又(you)高,并約定日(ri)出而(er)(er)(er)長(chang),日(ri)落(luo)(luo)而(er)(er)(er)息。誰(shui)知,白(bai)(bai)云山(shan)(shan)(shan)下(xia)有竹林晚照,天黑得晚,多長(chang)了(le)一(yi)(yi)(yi)個時(shi)辰。太(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)(ding)雖為(wei)主峰(feng)(feng)卻矮(ai)了(le)一(yi)(yi)(yi)截,它急白(bai)(bai)了(le)頂(ding)(ding),便到(dao)(dao)玉(yu)皇大帝那(nei)里(li)訴說(shuo)白(bai)(bai)云山(shan)(shan)(shan)超(chao)越主峰(feng)(feng)。玉(yu)皇大帝派太(tai)白(bai)(bai)金(jin)星下(xia)界用(yong)其拂(fu)塵掃了(le)一(yi)(yi)(yi)下(xia),把白(bai)(bai)云峰(feng)(feng)尖掃落(luo)(luo)到(dao)(dao)東邊而(er)(er)(er)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)樂(落(luo)(luo))山(shan)(shan)(shan)。白(bai)(bai)云山(shan)(shan)(shan)平坦無峰(feng)(feng)怎么辦?太(tai)白(bai)(bai)金(jin)星又(you)派眾山(shan)(shan)(shan)神抬白(bai)(bai)云山(shan)(shan)(shan)南一(yi)(yi)(yi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)(ding)的石(shi)垛子放(fang)到(dao)(dao)白(bai)(bai)云山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)(ding)而(er)(er)(er)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)白(bai)(bai)貌垛。抬走(zou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)(ding)的山(shan)(shan)(shan)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)了(le)平臺(tai),即現(xian)在(zai)的臺(tai)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。
那(nei)以后,白云山(shan)雖然(ran)(ran)稍(shao)低(di),但(dan)經玉(yu)皇大帝特批可以自(zi)(zi)成(cheng)(cheng)體系,在自(zi)(zi)己的(de)周圍形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)低(di)山(shan)組合。共有(you)(you)山(shan)峰(feng)八八六十四(si)座,東有(you)(you)雙山(shan)565米(mi)、掛旗山(shan)650米(mi)、火龍(long)山(shan)461米(mi)、樂山(shan)813米(mi),南(nan)有(you)(you)光石垴832米(mi)、大尖山(shan)604.7米(mi)、羅(luo)漢(han)頂760米(mi)、黑(hei)山(shan)497.5,西有(you)(you)桂(gui)花(hua)山(shan)740米(mi),北(bei)有(you)(you)塔山(shan)760米(mi)、龍(long)盤山(shan)604米(mi)。山(shan)連山(shan),峰(feng)連峰(feng),秀(xiu)峻挺(ting)拔,巍然(ran)(ran)峙立,列山(shan)如屏。脊峰(feng)北(bei)翼(yi)(yi)陡險,南(nan)翼(yi)(yi)舒緩。巖(yan)(yan)層由變質(zhi)巖(yan)(yan)、混合巖(yan)(yan)、花(hua)崗巖(yan)(yan)、白云巖(yan)(yan)等(deng)。山(shan)嶺(ling)怪石天成(cheng)(cheng),形(xing)態自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran),原(yuan)始古樸。
白云山(shan)(shan)幽靜而(er)靈秀(xiu)。地處北亞熱帶(dai)向暖溫帶(dai)過(guo)渡區,屬大陸性季風氣(qi)(qi)候。氣(qi)(qi)候濕潤,雨量充沛。又有天然小氣(qi)(qi)候,俗言“白茅(mao)垛戴帽,淹死老道(士)”。山(shan)(shan)上有水(shui)(shui)泉(quan)(quan)九(jiu)九(jiu)八十(shi)一眼,出名泉(quan)(quan)眼有張良廟泌水(shui)(shui)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan),立陡溝(gou)柳河(he)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan),臺山(shan)(shan)河(he)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)白龍(long)(long)泉(quan)(quan),老河(he)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)響石棚(peng)泉(quan)(quan),九(jiu)龍(long)(long)口紗帽翅河(he)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan),大橡樹龍(long)(long)潭源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan),棋盤嶺泉(quan)(quan)(匯入泌水(shui)(shui)),城頂山(shan)(shan)泉(quan)(quan)(匯入泌水(shui)(shui))等(deng)等(deng)。泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)(shui)競湊,奔涌成(cheng)溪,越澗跳峽而(er)成(cheng)飛瀑(pu)(pu)十(shi)數(shu)個。蔚為壯觀的瀑(pu)(pu)布(bu)有龍(long)(long)潭峽瀑(pu)(pu)布(bu),落(luo)差近40米(mi),飛流直下,水(shui)(shui)霧彌漫;蜘蛛(zhu)山(shan)(shan)三級瀑(pu)(pu)布(bu),落(luo)差150米(mi),如蛟龍(long)(long)出海,攜(xie)風帶(dai)雨,飛珠濺玉,經三級蹦極,呼嘯而(er)入黃龍(long)(long)潭;九(jiu)夢崖(ya)瀑(pu)(pu)布(bu),落(luo)差70米(mi),似晴天響雷(lei),轟鳴之聲傳之數(shu)里;立陡溝(gou)瀑(pu)(pu)布(bu),落(luo)差50余米(mi),橫(heng)寬十(shi)數(shu)丈(zhang),細流慢分,如輕紗薄霧。
白云(yun)山(shan)區有(you)大型(xing)水(shui)庫1座,小(xiao)一、小(xiao)二型(xing)水(shui)庫5座。北(bei)山(shan)腳下的板橋水(shui)庫蓄(xu)水(shui)7億立方米(mi),碧波萬(wan)頃,倒映白云(yun)山(shan)雄姿。小(xiao)型(xing)水(shui)庫如(ru)寶石如(ru)明鏡(jing),鑲鉗在(zai)山(shan)間(jian),山(shan)中(zhong)有(you)水(shui),水(shui)中(zhong)有(you)山(shan),山(shan)高水(shui)闊,天然和諧,于(yu)雄偉中(zhong)透著(zhu)靈秀(xiu)。
通山為(wei)林(lin)木花草覆(fu)蓋,蓊郁(yu)繽紛,四季長青,恰(qia)如(ru)綠色的(de)海(hai)洋(yang)。原始森林(lin)、天然(ran)次生林(lin)和人工林(lin),針(zhen)闊(kuo)葉種類繁多,高、低交錯互生,橫無際(ji)涯,遮天蔽日,1993年被河南省政府批準為(wei)森林(lin)公(gong)園。龍(long)潭寺(si)側(ce),中原馬尾松王樹(shu)高百尺(chi),直插云霄(xiao);萬僧寺(si)中,千(qian)年銀杏一雌一雄,樹(shu)冠(guan)(guan)交合(he),形同夫妻。數株(zhu)千(qian)年大(da)橡樹(shu)和張(zhang)良廟千(qian)年柿樹(shu),一樹(shu)一景,姿態各異(yi)。同時,密林(lin)深處棲(qi)息著狼、獾、野豬(zhu) 、金(jin)錢豹、大(da)靈(ling)貓、青羊(yang)、麝、天鵝、勺雞、白冠(guan)(guan)長尾雉、蜂鳥、大(da)鯢、果子貍等(deng)多種動物,又有(you)“天然(ran)動植(zhi)物園”之譽。
白(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)物華而天寶(bao)。中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)眾多(duo),分(fen)布(bu)廣(guang)泛(fan)。民(min)間有(you)“從山(shan)(shan)(shan)上到平坡,除了(le)白(bai)草都是(shi)藥(yao)(yao)”的(de)(de)說法(fa)。據有(you)關(guan)部門普(pu)查(cha)(cha),白(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)有(you)各類中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)698種(zhong)(zhong),分(fen)153科,計583屬。全國重點普(pu)查(cha)(cha)的(de)(de)363個中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)中(zhong),白(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)出產(chan)192種(zhong)(zhong)。在河南重點普(pu)查(cha)(cha)的(de)(de)476個中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)中(zhong),白(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)出產(chan)273種(zhong)(zhong)。優質中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)有(you)射干(gan)、桔(jie)梗、柴胡、丹參(can)、南山(shan)(shan)(shan)楂、蒼術等(deng)(deng),大(da)宗(zong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)有(you)夏枯草、南沙(sha)參(can)、半枝蓮(lian)、益(yi)母草、金銀花、馬鞭草等(deng)(deng)。其中(zhong),射干(gan)、桔(jie)梗以(yi)量大(da)質優成為北京同仁藥(yao)(yao)店藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)。1982年,河南省醫藥(yao)(yao)總(zong)公司確定泌陽為射干(gan)生產(chan)基地(di)(di)縣(xian)。白(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)畜牧(mu)養殖條件得天獨(du)厚,是(shi)南陽黃(huang)牛繁育基地(di)(di)之一,是(shi)泌陽驢的(de)(de)中(zhong)心產(chan)地(di)(di)。
白(bai)云山廣泛分布著白(bai)貌垛(duo)祖(zu)師廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、老(lao)爺廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、張良廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、萬(wan)僧寺(si)、老(lao)崇寺(si)、羅漢寺(si)、龍(long)(long)潭寺(si)和北(bei)泉寺(si)等眾(zhong)多(duo)古寺(si)廟(miao)(miao)(miao),星羅棋布著棋盤嶺、龍(long)(long)頭崖、龍(long)(long)椅、龍(long)(long)印、石(shi)船、十八扭(niu)、神(shen)(shen)仙拉(la)車、紗帽石(shi)、蛇頭石(shi)等諸多(duo)神(shen)(shen)奇(qi)景觀。城(cheng)頂寨(zhai)、闖(chuang)王寨(zhai)、大頂山寨(zhai)、臺山寨(zhai),寨(zhai)寨(zhai)相連;火龍(long)(long)洞、羅漢洞、臺山洞、神(shen)(shen)仙洞,洞洞溝通。這里是神(shen)(shen)奇(qi)的仙境,是人間的天堂(tang)。