白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)主峰海拔983米,奇(qi)(qi)石如垛,白(bai)(bai)云(yun)繚繞,俗(su)稱(cheng)白(bai)(bai)貌(mao)垛。明嘉靖《南陽(yang)府志(zhi)·山(shan)(shan)川·泌陽(yang)縣(xian)》的記載是:“白(bai)(bai)貌(mao)垛山(shan)(shan),在縣(xian)東(dong)七(qi)十里(li),山(shan)(shan)之奇(qi)(qi)峰秀麗,常有白(bai)(bai)云(yun)舒卷故名(ming)”。清《泌陽(yang)縣(xian)志(zhi)》具體描述(shu)為:“白(bai)(bai)茅堵(垛),在縣(xian)東(dong)北七(qi)十里(li),山(shan)(shan)勢雄(xiong)偉,俯環群山(shan)(shan),天(tian)陰(yin)雨必興(xing)云(yun)霧(wu)。山(shan)(shan)后有龍潭。相傳(chuan)山(shan)(shan)上(shang)有白(bai)(bai)茅大仙。每逢(feng)歲旱,鄉(xiang)人無(wu)論遠近,皆往(wang)祈(qi)雨,有求輒(zhe)應,屢著(zhu)靈(ling)異。又名(ming)白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)。”
白云山古(gu)老而神奇。歷(li)史上(shang),以(yi)其滿(man)山青翠、如龍(long)在臥(wo)而曾名青龍(long)山。自白貌(mao)垛(duo)向(xiang)東北綿延至確(que)山境,宛若一(yi)條巨龍(long),白貌(mao)垛(duo)正(zheng)是(shi)(shi)昂起的龍(long)首,石垛(duo)儼然是(shi)(shi)龍(long)角,槍桿嶺一(yi)如龍(long)須,龍(long)口噴吐著云霧飛(fei)瀑(pu)(九龍(long)瀑(pu)),龍(long)尾翹(qiao)立(li)(li)在平疇綠野(樂(le)山),一(yi)派意欲騰飛(fei)、活(huo)靈活(huo)現的蒼(cang)龍(long)容貌(mao),古(gu)人以(yi)“貌(mao)朵龍(long)容”列為(wei)(wei)泌陽(yang)八景之(zhi)一(yi),載(zai)入《南陽(yang)府志(zhi)》。尤為(wei)(wei)神奇的是(shi)(shi),在這條巨龍(long)身旁有(you)龍(long)盤山、桂花山、羅漢頂、大頂子(zi)、城頂山、棋盤、蜀山、掛(gua)旗山、千年嶺諸峰盤桓來朝(chao),如龍(long)拱衛;有(you)黃龍(long)潭(tan)、黑龍(long)潭(tan)、響水(shui)潭(tan)、白龍(long)泉(quan)(quan)、火龍(long)泉(quan)(quan)、立(li)(li)陡溝泉(quan)(quan)、響石棚泉(quan)(quan)等眾水(shui)相(xiang)向(xiang),潤澤滋養。可謂九龍(long)蟠曲,祥瑞紛呈。
傳說(shuo)遠古時候,這里是一片(pian)深海,與(yu)東(dong)海相連。天塌地陷以后,海水(shui)(shui)迅速東(dong)泄,這里的(de)老龍王把(ba)宮中(zhong)金(jin)銀珠寶裝了一船(chuan),與(yu)龍子龍孫(sun)一起(qi)隨水(shui)(shui)搬家(jia)。太(tai)白金(jin)星(xing)見狀(zhuang)急(ji)奏玉皇(huang)大(da)帝:中(zhong)原寶貝不能(neng)流失東(dong)海。遂(sui)作(zuo)法退水(shui)(shui),寶船(chuan)擱淺在(zai)今東(dong)雙山老爺廟處,大(da)橡樹(shu)就是大(da)船(chuan)桅桿。老龍與(yu)子孫(sun)也(ye)化石為山,構了如今的(de)白云山系(xi)。
神話見證著(zhu)歷史(shi)。25億年前,太古(gu)界地(di)(di)層出露桐柏山群(qun),分布(bu)在羊冊—王(wang)店(dian)大(da)斷裂(lie)以北華山水庫(ku)—宋(song)溝、竹林—白云(yun)山一帶(dai)。歷元古(gu)界—新(xin)生界,經中條、王(wang)屋(wu)、燕山構造運(yun)動,地(di)(di)層發生變質、褶(zhe)皺和斷裂(lie),產生不同(tong)成因的巖(yan)漿活動,形成白云(yun)山現在的地(di)(di)質地(di)(di)貌。
白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)雄(xiong)壯而質(zhi)樸。山(shan)(shan)(shan)體呈東(dong)北(bei)——西(xi)南(nan)走向(xiang),與桐柏山(shan)(shan)(shan)主峰(feng)太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)遙(yao)遙(yao)相望,成(cheng)為豫南(nan)雙峰(feng)星(xing)座(zuo),高大(da)深厚,威武雄(xiong)壯。民間(jian)傳(chuan)說當初太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)與白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)相約一(yi)同往高處長(chang)(chang),看(kan)誰(shui)長(chang)(chang)得又(you)快(kuai)又(you)高,并(bing)約定日(ri)出(chu)而長(chang)(chang),日(ri)落而息。誰(shui)知,白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)下(xia)有竹(zhu)林晚照,天黑得晚,多長(chang)(chang)了(le)一(yi)個時辰(chen)。太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)雖(sui)為主峰(feng)卻矮了(le)一(yi)截,它(ta)急白(bai)(bai)了(le)頂(ding),便到(dao)(dao)玉(yu)(yu)皇大(da)帝(di)那里訴說白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)超越(yue)主峰(feng)。玉(yu)(yu)皇大(da)帝(di)派(pai)(pai)太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)金星(xing)下(xia)界用其拂塵掃了(le)一(yi)下(xia),把白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)峰(feng)尖掃落到(dao)(dao)東(dong)邊而成(cheng)樂(le)(落)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)平坦無峰(feng)怎么辦?太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)金星(xing)又(you)派(pai)(pai)眾(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)神(shen)抬白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)南(nan)一(yi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)的(de)石(shi)垛子放(fang)到(dao)(dao)白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)而成(cheng)白(bai)(bai)貌垛。抬走山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)的(de)山(shan)(shan)(shan)成(cheng)了(le)平臺,即(ji)現在的(de)臺山(shan)(shan)(shan)。
那(nei)以后(hou),白云山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)雖(sui)然稍低,但經玉(yu)皇大(da)帝特批可以自成(cheng)(cheng)體系,在(zai)自己的周圍形成(cheng)(cheng)低山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)組(zu)合(he)。共(gong)有(you)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)峰(feng)八(ba)八(ba)六(liu)十四(si)座,東有(you)雙山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)565米(mi)(mi)、掛旗山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)650米(mi)(mi)、火龍山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)461米(mi)(mi)、樂山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)813米(mi)(mi),南(nan)有(you)光石垴832米(mi)(mi)、大(da)尖山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)604.7米(mi)(mi)、羅漢(han)頂760米(mi)(mi)、黑山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)497.5,西有(you)桂花(hua)(hua)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)740米(mi)(mi),北(bei)有(you)塔山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)760米(mi)(mi)、龍盤山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)604米(mi)(mi)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)連(lian)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),峰(feng)連(lian)峰(feng),秀峻挺(ting)拔,巍然峙立,列山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)如屏。脊峰(feng)北(bei)翼(yi)陡險,南(nan)翼(yi)舒緩。巖(yan)層由變質巖(yan)、混合(he)巖(yan)、花(hua)(hua)崗巖(yan)、白云巖(yan)等(deng)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)嶺怪石天成(cheng)(cheng),形態自然,原始古樸。
白云山(shan)幽靜而靈(ling)秀。地(di)處北亞(ya)熱帶向暖(nuan)溫帶過渡(du)區,屬(shu)大(da)陸(lu)性季風氣(qi)候。氣(qi)候濕(shi)潤,雨量充(chong)沛。又(you)有(you)天然(ran)小(xiao)氣(qi)候,俗言“白茅(mao)垛戴帽(mao),淹死(si)老(lao)道(士)”。山(shan)上(shang)有(you)水泉九(jiu)九(jiu)八十一(yi)眼(yan),出(chu)名(ming)泉眼(yan)有(you)張良廟(miao)泌水源(yuan)泉,立(li)陡溝(gou)柳(liu)河(he)源(yuan)泉,臺(tai)山(shan)河(he)源(yuan)泉白龍(long)泉,老(lao)河(he)源(yuan)泉響(xiang)(xiang)石(shi)棚泉,九(jiu)龍(long)口(kou)紗(sha)帽(mao)翅河(he)源(yuan)泉,大(da)橡樹龍(long)潭源(yuan)泉,棋盤嶺(ling)泉(匯(hui)入(ru)泌水),城頂山(shan)泉(匯(hui)入(ru)泌水)等等。泉水競(jing)湊,奔涌成溪,越澗跳峽而成飛(fei)(fei)瀑(pu)十數(shu)個。蔚(yu)為壯觀的瀑(pu)布(bu)有(you)龍(long)潭峽瀑(pu)布(bu),落差(cha)近40米,飛(fei)(fei)流直下,水霧(wu)彌(mi)漫;蜘蛛山(shan)三級瀑(pu)布(bu),落差(cha)150米,如(ru)蛟龍(long)出(chu)海,攜風帶雨,飛(fei)(fei)珠濺(jian)玉,經(jing)三級蹦(beng)極,呼嘯(xiao)而入(ru)黃龍(long)潭;九(jiu)夢(meng)崖(ya)瀑(pu)布(bu),落差(cha)70米,似(si)晴天響(xiang)(xiang)雷(lei),轟鳴(ming)之(zhi)聲傳之(zhi)數(shu)里;立(li)陡溝(gou)瀑(pu)布(bu),落差(cha)50余米,橫寬十數(shu)丈(zhang),細流慢分(fen),如(ru)輕紗(sha)薄霧(wu)。
白云山區(qu)有大(da)型水庫(ku)(ku)1座,小(xiao)一、小(xiao)二型水庫(ku)(ku)5座。北山腳下的板橋水庫(ku)(ku)蓄水7億立方米,碧波萬頃,倒映(ying)白云山雄姿。小(xiao)型水庫(ku)(ku)如寶石如明鏡(jing),鑲鉗在山間,山中(zhong)(zhong)有水,水中(zhong)(zhong)有山,山高水闊,天然和諧,于雄偉中(zhong)(zhong)透(tou)著靈秀(xiu)。
通山(shan)為林(lin)木花草覆蓋,蓊(weng)郁繽紛,四季長(chang)青,恰如綠色的海洋。原始森林(lin)、天(tian)(tian)然次生林(lin)和人工林(lin),針闊(kuo)葉種類繁多,高(gao)、低交(jiao)錯互(hu)生,橫無(wu)際涯,遮天(tian)(tian)蔽日,1993年被河(he)南(nan)省政(zheng)府批準為森林(lin)公(gong)園(yuan)。龍潭寺側,中原馬尾(wei)松(song)王(wang)樹高(gao)百尺(chi),直(zhi)插云(yun)霄;萬僧寺中,千年銀杏一(yi)雌一(yi)雄,樹冠交(jiao)合(he),形同(tong)夫妻。數(shu)株千年大(da)(da)橡樹和張良廟千年柿樹,一(yi)樹一(yi)景,姿(zi)態各異。同(tong)時,密林(lin)深處棲息著狼、獾、野豬 、金錢豹、大(da)(da)靈貓、青羊、麝、天(tian)(tian)鵝、勺雞(ji)、白冠長(chang)尾(wei)雉、蜂鳥、大(da)(da)鯢、果子貍等多種動(dong)物(wu),又有(you)“天(tian)(tian)然動(dong)植物(wu)園(yuan)”之譽(yu)。
白云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)物華(hua)而天寶。中藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)眾多,分布廣泛(fan)。民(min)間有(you)“從山(shan)(shan)(shan)上到平坡,除了白草(cao)(cao)都(dou)是(shi)藥(yao)(yao)”的說(shuo)法。據有(you)關(guan)部門普查,白云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)有(you)各(ge)類中藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)698種(zhong)(zhong),分153科,計583屬。全國(guo)重(zhong)點普查的363個(ge)中藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)中,白云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)出產(chan)192種(zhong)(zhong)。在(zai)河(he)南重(zhong)點普查的476個(ge)中藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)中,白云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)出產(chan)273種(zhong)(zhong)。優質中藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)有(you)射干、桔(jie)(jie)梗、柴胡、丹參(can)、南山(shan)(shan)(shan)楂、蒼(cang)術等(deng),大(da)宗藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)有(you)夏枯草(cao)(cao)、南沙參(can)、半枝蓮、益母草(cao)(cao)、金銀(yin)花、馬鞭草(cao)(cao)等(deng)。其中,射干、桔(jie)(jie)梗以量(liang)大(da)質優成為北京(jing)同仁藥(yao)(yao)店藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)(cai)。1982年,河(he)南省(sheng)醫藥(yao)(yao)總公司確定(ding)泌陽(yang)為射干生產(chan)基(ji)地縣(xian)。白云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)畜牧養殖條件得(de)天獨厚,是(shi)南陽(yang)黃牛繁育基(ji)地之一,是(shi)泌陽(yang)驢的中心(xin)產(chan)地。
白(bai)云山廣泛分布著白(bai)貌垛祖師廟、老爺廟、張良廟、萬僧寺(si)、老崇寺(si)、羅(luo)(luo)漢寺(si)、龍(long)(long)(long)潭(tan)寺(si)和北泉寺(si)等眾多古寺(si)廟,星羅(luo)(luo)棋(qi)布著棋(qi)盤嶺、龍(long)(long)(long)頭崖、龍(long)(long)(long)椅、龍(long)(long)(long)印(yin)、石船(chuan)、十(shi)八(ba)扭、神仙(xian)拉車、紗帽石、蛇頭石等諸多神奇景觀。城頂(ding)寨(zhai)(zhai)、闖王寨(zhai)(zhai)、大頂(ding)山寨(zhai)(zhai)、臺山寨(zhai)(zhai),寨(zhai)(zhai)寨(zhai)(zhai)相連;火龍(long)(long)(long)洞、羅(luo)(luo)漢洞、臺山洞、神仙(xian)洞,洞洞溝通。這里是神奇的(de)仙(xian)境,是人間的(de)天堂。