白(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)云山主峰海拔983米,奇(qi)石(shi)如垛(duo),白(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)云繚繞,俗稱(cheng)白(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)貌(mao)垛(duo)。明嘉(jia)靖(jing)《南陽府(fu)志·山川(chuan)·泌陽縣》的記(ji)載是(shi):“白(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)貌(mao)垛(duo)山,在縣東七十(shi)里,山之奇(qi)峰秀麗,常有(you)白(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)云舒(shu)卷故名(ming)”。清(qing)《泌陽縣志》具體(ti)描述(shu)為:“白(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)茅(mao)(mao)堵(垛(duo)),在縣東北七十(shi)里,山勢雄偉,俯環(huan)群山,天陰(yin)雨必興云霧。山后(hou)有(you)龍潭。相傳山上有(you)白(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)茅(mao)(mao)大仙。每逢歲旱,鄉人無(wu)論遠近,皆往祈雨,有(you)求輒應,屢著靈異(yi)。又(you)名(ming)白(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)云山。”
白云山(shan)(shan)(shan)古老(lao)而神奇。歷史上(shang),以其(qi)滿山(shan)(shan)(shan)青翠、如龍(long)(long)(long)在(zai)臥而曾名青龍(long)(long)(long)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。自白貌垛(duo)向(xiang)東北綿延至確山(shan)(shan)(shan)境,宛(wan)若一(yi)條(tiao)巨龍(long)(long)(long),白貌垛(duo)正(zheng)是(shi)昂起(qi)的龍(long)(long)(long)首,石(shi)垛(duo)儼然是(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)角,槍桿嶺(ling)一(yi)如龍(long)(long)(long)須,龍(long)(long)(long)口噴(pen)吐著云霧飛(fei)瀑(九龍(long)(long)(long)瀑),龍(long)(long)(long)尾翹(qiao)立在(zai)平疇綠野(樂山(shan)(shan)(shan)),一(yi)派意欲(yu)騰飛(fei)、活靈活現的蒼龍(long)(long)(long)容貌,古人以“貌朵龍(long)(long)(long)容”列為泌(mi)陽(yang)(yang)八景(jing)之(zhi)一(yi),載入《南陽(yang)(yang)府志》。尤為神奇的是(shi),在(zai)這(zhe)條(tiao)巨龍(long)(long)(long)身旁有龍(long)(long)(long)盤(pan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、桂花山(shan)(shan)(shan)、羅漢頂(ding)(ding)、大頂(ding)(ding)子、城頂(ding)(ding)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、棋(qi)盤(pan)、蜀(shu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、掛旗山(shan)(shan)(shan)、千年嶺(ling)諸峰盤(pan)桓來(lai)朝(chao),如龍(long)(long)(long)拱衛;有黃龍(long)(long)(long)潭(tan)(tan)(tan)、黑龍(long)(long)(long)潭(tan)(tan)(tan)、響水潭(tan)(tan)(tan)、白龍(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)、火龍(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)、立陡溝泉(quan)(quan)(quan)、響石(shi)棚泉(quan)(quan)(quan)等(deng)眾水相向(xiang),潤(run)澤滋養。可謂(wei)九龍(long)(long)(long)蟠(pan)曲,祥(xiang)瑞(rui)紛呈。
傳說遠古時候,這里(li)是一片深(shen)海(hai)(hai),與東海(hai)(hai)相(xiang)連。天塌地陷以后,海(hai)(hai)水(shui)(shui)迅速東泄,這里(li)的老(lao)龍(long)王把宮中金(jin)銀珠(zhu)寶裝(zhuang)了一船(chuan)(chuan),與龍(long)子(zi)(zi)龍(long)孫(sun)一起隨(sui)水(shui)(shui)搬家。太白金(jin)星見狀急奏玉皇大(da)(da)(da)帝(di):中原寶貝不能流失東海(hai)(hai)。遂作法退水(shui)(shui),寶船(chuan)(chuan)擱淺在今東雙山老(lao)爺(ye)廟處(chu),大(da)(da)(da)橡樹(shu)就是大(da)(da)(da)船(chuan)(chuan)桅桿。老(lao)龍(long)與子(zi)(zi)孫(sun)也化(hua)石為山,構了如今的白云山系。
神(shen)話(hua)見(jian)證著歷史。25億年前,太古(gu)界(jie)地(di)(di)層(ceng)出露桐柏山(shan)群,分(fen)布(bu)在羊(yang)冊—王(wang)(wang)店大斷裂(lie)以北華山(shan)水庫—宋溝、竹林—白云山(shan)一帶。歷元古(gu)界(jie)—新生(sheng)界(jie),經中條、王(wang)(wang)屋、燕山(shan)構造(zao)運動(dong),地(di)(di)層(ceng)發生(sheng)變質、褶皺和(he)斷裂(lie),產(chan)生(sheng)不同成因的巖漿活動(dong),形成白云山(shan)現在的地(di)(di)質地(di)(di)貌。
白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)雄(xiong)(xiong)壯而質樸。山(shan)(shan)(shan)體呈(cheng)東北——西(xi)南(nan)走向,與(yu)桐柏山(shan)(shan)(shan)主(zhu)峰太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂遙遙相望,成(cheng)為豫(yu)南(nan)雙(shuang)峰星座,高(gao)大深(shen)厚,威武雄(xiong)(xiong)壯。民(min)間傳說(shuo)(shuo)當初太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂與(yu)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)相約(yue)一同往高(gao)處長,看(kan)誰(shui)長得又快(kuai)又高(gao),并約(yue)定日(ri)出而長,日(ri)落而息。誰(shui)知,白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)下(xia)有竹林(lin)晚(wan)照(zhao),天(tian)黑得晚(wan),多(duo)長了(le)一個(ge)時辰。太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂雖為主(zhu)峰卻(que)矮了(le)一截,它急白(bai)(bai)(bai)了(le)頂,便(bian)到(dao)玉(yu)皇大帝那(nei)里訴說(shuo)(shuo)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)超越主(zhu)峰。玉(yu)皇大帝派太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)金星下(xia)界用其拂塵掃了(le)一下(xia),把白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)峰尖掃落到(dao)東邊而成(cheng)樂(落)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)平坦無峰怎么辦?太(tai)(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)金星又派眾(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)神抬(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)南(nan)一山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂的石(shi)垛(duo)子放到(dao)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂而成(cheng)白(bai)(bai)(bai)貌(mao)垛(duo)。抬(tai)走山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂的山(shan)(shan)(shan)成(cheng)了(le)平臺,即現在的臺山(shan)(shan)(shan)。
那(nei)以(yi)后,白(bai)云山(shan)(shan)雖然(ran)稍低,但經玉(yu)皇大帝特批可以(yi)自成體系,在自己的周圍形(xing)成低山(shan)(shan)組合(he)。共有(you)(you)(you)山(shan)(shan)峰(feng)八八六十四(si)座,東有(you)(you)(you)雙(shuang)山(shan)(shan)565米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、掛(gua)旗山(shan)(shan)650米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、火龍山(shan)(shan)461米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、樂(le)山(shan)(shan)813米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)(nan)有(you)(you)(you)光石(shi)垴832米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、大尖山(shan)(shan)604.7米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、羅(luo)漢頂760米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、黑山(shan)(shan)497.5,西有(you)(you)(you)桂花山(shan)(shan)740米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),北有(you)(you)(you)塔山(shan)(shan)760米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、龍盤山(shan)(shan)604米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。山(shan)(shan)連山(shan)(shan),峰(feng)連峰(feng),秀(xiu)峻挺拔,巍(wei)然(ran)峙立,列山(shan)(shan)如屏。脊峰(feng)北翼陡險,南(nan)(nan)翼舒緩。巖層由變質(zhi)巖、混合(he)巖、花崗巖、白(bai)云巖等(deng)。山(shan)(shan)嶺(ling)怪石(shi)天成,形(xing)態自然(ran),原始古樸。
白云山(shan)(shan)幽靜(jing)而(er)靈秀。地處北亞熱帶(dai)(dai)向暖溫帶(dai)(dai)過渡區,屬大陸性季風氣(qi)(qi)候。氣(qi)(qi)候濕潤,雨(yu)量(liang)充沛。又有天(tian)然小(xiao)氣(qi)(qi)候,俗言(yan)“白茅垛戴(dai)帽,淹死老(lao)道(dao)(士)”。山(shan)(shan)上有水(shui)泉(quan)(quan)九(jiu)(jiu)九(jiu)(jiu)八十(shi)一眼,出名泉(quan)(quan)眼有張良(liang)廟(miao)泌水(shui)源泉(quan)(quan),立(li)陡(dou)溝柳(liu)河源泉(quan)(quan),臺(tai)山(shan)(shan)河源泉(quan)(quan)白龍(long)(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)(quan),老(lao)河源泉(quan)(quan)響石棚泉(quan)(quan),九(jiu)(jiu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)口紗帽翅河源泉(quan)(quan),大橡樹(shu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)潭源泉(quan)(quan),棋盤嶺泉(quan)(quan)(匯入泌水(shui)),城頂山(shan)(shan)泉(quan)(quan)(匯入泌水(shui))等等。泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)競(jing)湊,奔涌成(cheng)溪(xi),越(yue)澗跳峽(xia)而(er)成(cheng)飛(fei)瀑(pu)十(shi)數(shu)個。蔚為壯觀(guan)的瀑(pu)布(bu)有龍(long)(long)(long)(long)潭峽(xia)瀑(pu)布(bu),落(luo)差近40米(mi),飛(fei)流直下,水(shui)霧彌漫(man);蜘蛛山(shan)(shan)三(san)級瀑(pu)布(bu),落(luo)差150米(mi),如蛟龍(long)(long)(long)(long)出海,攜風帶(dai)(dai)雨(yu),飛(fei)珠濺(jian)玉,經三(san)級蹦(beng)極,呼嘯而(er)入黃(huang)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)潭;九(jiu)(jiu)夢崖瀑(pu)布(bu),落(luo)差70米(mi),似(si)晴天(tian)響雷(lei),轟鳴之聲傳(chuan)之數(shu)里;立(li)陡(dou)溝瀑(pu)布(bu),落(luo)差50余米(mi),橫(heng)寬十(shi)數(shu)丈,細(xi)流慢分(fen),如輕(qing)紗薄(bo)霧。
白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)區有大型水(shui)庫(ku)1座,小一(yi)、小二(er)型水(shui)庫(ku)5座。北山(shan)(shan)腳(jiao)下的板(ban)橋水(shui)庫(ku)蓄水(shui)7億立方米,碧波(bo)萬頃,倒映白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)雄(xiong)姿。小型水(shui)庫(ku)如寶石(shi)如明(ming)鏡,鑲鉗(qian)在山(shan)(shan)間(jian),山(shan)(shan)中(zhong)(zhong)有水(shui),水(shui)中(zhong)(zhong)有山(shan)(shan),山(shan)(shan)高水(shui)闊,天然和諧,于雄(xiong)偉中(zhong)(zhong)透(tou)著靈秀。
通山(shan)為(wei)林木花草(cao)覆蓋,蓊郁繽紛,四(si)季(ji)長(chang)青(qing)(qing),恰如綠色的海洋。原始森(sen)林、天(tian)然次生林和(he)(he)人工林,針(zhen)闊葉(xie)種類繁多,高、低(di)交(jiao)錯互(hu)生,橫(heng)無際涯,遮(zhe)天(tian)蔽日,1993年被河南省政府批準為(wei)森(sen)林公園(yuan)。龍潭寺(si)側(ce),中原馬尾松(song)王樹高百尺,直插云(yun)霄;萬僧寺(si)中,千(qian)年銀杏一雌(ci)一雄(xiong),樹冠交(jiao)合(he),形同夫妻。數株千(qian)年大橡樹和(he)(he)張良廟(miao)千(qian)年柿樹,一樹一景,姿態各(ge)異。同時,密林深處棲息著狼、獾(huan)、野豬 、金錢豹(bao)、大靈貓、青(qing)(qing)羊、麝(she)、天(tian)鵝、勺雞、白冠長(chang)尾雉、蜂鳥(niao)、大鯢、果子貍(li)等多種動物,又有“天(tian)然動植物園(yuan)”之譽。
白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)物華而天寶。中藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)眾多,分布廣(guang)泛。民間有(you)“從山(shan)上到平坡(po),除(chu)了白(bai)(bai)草(cao)(cao)都(dou)是(shi)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)”的說法(fa)。據有(you)關部門(men)普查(cha),白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)有(you)各類中藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)698種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),分153科,計583屬(shu)。全(quan)國重點普查(cha)的363個中藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)中,白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)出產(chan)192種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。在河南(nan)重點普查(cha)的476個中藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)品種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)中,白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)出產(chan)273種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。優質中藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)有(you)射干(gan)(gan)、桔梗(geng)、柴(chai)胡、丹參、南(nan)山(shan)楂、蒼術等,大(da)宗藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)有(you)夏枯(ku)草(cao)(cao)、南(nan)沙參、半枝蓮、益母(mu)草(cao)(cao)、金銀花(hua)、馬鞭草(cao)(cao)等。其中,射干(gan)(gan)、桔梗(geng)以量大(da)質優成為北京同仁藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)店藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)。1982年,河南(nan)省(sheng)醫藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)總(zong)公司確定泌陽為射干(gan)(gan)生產(chan)基地縣。白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)畜牧養(yang)殖條件得天獨厚,是(shi)南(nan)陽黃(huang)牛(niu)繁育基地之一,是(shi)泌陽驢的中心產(chan)地。
白(bai)(bai)云山廣泛分布(bu)著(zhu)白(bai)(bai)貌垛(duo)祖師廟、老(lao)爺廟、張良廟、萬僧寺(si)(si)、老(lao)崇(chong)寺(si)(si)、羅(luo)漢寺(si)(si)、龍(long)潭寺(si)(si)和北泉寺(si)(si)等眾(zhong)多古寺(si)(si)廟,星羅(luo)棋布(bu)著(zhu)棋盤(pan)嶺、龍(long)頭崖、龍(long)椅、龍(long)印、石(shi)船、十八扭、神仙(xian)拉車、紗帽石(shi)、蛇頭石(shi)等諸(zhu)多神奇景觀。城頂寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)、闖王寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)、大頂山寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)、臺山寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai),寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)相(xiang)連;火龍(long)洞(dong)、羅(luo)漢洞(dong)、臺山洞(dong)、神仙(xian)洞(dong),洞(dong)洞(dong)溝通(tong)。這里是(shi)神奇的仙(xian)境,是(shi)人間的天(tian)堂(tang)。