白(bai)云山(shan)主峰海拔983米,奇石如垛,白(bai)云繚繞,俗(su)稱(cheng)白(bai)貌垛。明嘉靖《南(nan)陽府志(zhi)·山(shan)川·泌(mi)陽縣(xian)》的記載是(shi):“白(bai)貌垛山(shan),在縣(xian)東七十里(li),山(shan)之奇峰秀(xiu)麗,常有白(bai)云舒(shu)卷故名(ming)”。清《泌(mi)陽縣(xian)志(zhi)》具體(ti)描述為:“白(bai)茅(mao)堵(垛),在縣(xian)東北七十里(li),山(shan)勢雄(xiong)偉,俯環群山(shan),天(tian)陰雨必興(xing)云霧。山(shan)后(hou)有龍潭(tan)。相傳山(shan)上有白(bai)茅(mao)大仙。每逢歲旱,鄉人無論遠近,皆往祈雨,有求輒應,屢著靈異。又名(ming)白(bai)云山(shan)。”
白云山(shan)(shan)古老而神奇。歷史上,以其滿山(shan)(shan)青(qing)翠、如龍(long)(long)(long)(long)在臥而曾名青(qing)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)山(shan)(shan)。自白貌垛(duo)向東北(bei)綿(mian)延至確山(shan)(shan)境,宛(wan)若(ruo)一條巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)(long),白貌垛(duo)正是(shi)(shi)昂起的(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)首,石(shi)垛(duo)儼然(ran)是(shi)(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)角(jiao),槍桿嶺(ling)一如龍(long)(long)(long)(long)須,龍(long)(long)(long)(long)口(kou)噴吐著云霧飛瀑(九(jiu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)瀑),龍(long)(long)(long)(long)尾翹立在平疇(chou)綠野(樂(le)山(shan)(shan)),一派(pai)意欲騰飛、活靈(ling)活現(xian)的(de)(de)蒼龍(long)(long)(long)(long)容貌,古人以“貌朵龍(long)(long)(long)(long)容”列(lie)為泌陽(yang)八(ba)景之一,載入《南陽(yang)府志》。尤為神奇的(de)(de)是(shi)(shi),在這條巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)身旁有龍(long)(long)(long)(long)盤(pan)山(shan)(shan)、桂花(hua)山(shan)(shan)、羅(luo)漢頂(ding)(ding)、大頂(ding)(ding)子、城頂(ding)(ding)山(shan)(shan)、棋盤(pan)、蜀山(shan)(shan)、掛旗山(shan)(shan)、千年嶺(ling)諸(zhu)峰盤(pan)桓來朝,如龍(long)(long)(long)(long)拱衛;有黃龍(long)(long)(long)(long)潭、黑龍(long)(long)(long)(long)潭、響水潭、白龍(long)(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)、火龍(long)(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)、立陡(dou)溝泉(quan)、響石(shi)棚泉(quan)等眾(zhong)水相向,潤澤(ze)滋養(yang)。可謂九(jiu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)蟠曲,祥瑞紛(fen)呈。
傳說遠(yuan)古時(shi)候,這里(li)(li)是一(yi)片深海(hai),與(yu)東海(hai)相連(lian)。天塌(ta)地(di)陷以后(hou),海(hai)水迅(xun)速東泄,這里(li)(li)的老龍王把宮(gong)中(zhong)金銀珠寶(bao)裝了一(yi)船(chuan),與(yu)龍子龍孫一(yi)起(qi)隨(sui)水搬(ban)家。太(tai)白金星(xing)見狀急奏玉皇大(da)帝:中(zhong)原寶(bao)貝不能流(liu)失東海(hai)。遂作法退水,寶(bao)船(chuan)擱淺在今東雙山老爺廟處,大(da)橡樹就(jiu)是大(da)船(chuan)桅桿。老龍與(yu)子孫也化石為山,構了如今的白云(yun)山系。
神(shen)話(hua)見證著歷史(shi)。25億年前,太古(gu)界(jie)(jie)地層出(chu)露桐柏(bo)山群(qun),分布(bu)在(zai)羊(yang)冊—王店大斷裂以北華(hua)山水庫(ku)—宋(song)溝、竹林—白(bai)云山一帶(dai)。歷元古(gu)界(jie)(jie)—新生界(jie)(jie),經中條、王屋、燕(yan)山構造運動,地層發(fa)生變質(zhi)、褶(zhe)皺和斷裂,產生不同(tong)成因(yin)的巖漿活動,形成白(bai)云山現在(zai)的地質(zhi)地貌。
白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)雄壯而(er)質(zhi)樸(pu)。山(shan)(shan)體呈東北(bei)——西南走(zou)向(xiang),與(yu)桐柏山(shan)(shan)主(zhu)(zhu)峰(feng)太(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)遙遙相望,成為(wei)豫(yu)南雙峰(feng)星座,高大(da)(da)深厚,威武雄壯。民間傳說當初太(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)與(yu)白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)相約一(yi)同往高處長(chang),看誰長(chang)得(de)又快又高,并約定日(ri)(ri)出(chu)而(er)長(chang),日(ri)(ri)落而(er)息(xi)。誰知(zhi),白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)下有(you)竹林晚照,天黑(hei)得(de)晚,多長(chang)了(le)(le)一(yi)個(ge)時辰。太(tai)白(bai)(bai)頂(ding)雖為(wei)主(zhu)(zhu)峰(feng)卻(que)矮了(le)(le)一(yi)截,它(ta)急白(bai)(bai)了(le)(le)頂(ding),便到(dao)玉(yu)(yu)皇大(da)(da)帝那里訴(su)說白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)超越主(zhu)(zhu)峰(feng)。玉(yu)(yu)皇大(da)(da)帝派太(tai)白(bai)(bai)金(jin)星下界用其拂塵掃了(le)(le)一(yi)下,把白(bai)(bai)云(yun)峰(feng)尖掃落到(dao)東邊而(er)成樂(落)山(shan)(shan)。白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)平坦無峰(feng)怎么辦(ban)?太(tai)白(bai)(bai)金(jin)星又派眾(zhong)山(shan)(shan)神抬白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)南一(yi)山(shan)(shan)頂(ding)的石垛(duo)子放到(dao)白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)頂(ding)而(er)成白(bai)(bai)貌垛(duo)。抬走(zou)山(shan)(shan)頂(ding)的山(shan)(shan)成了(le)(le)平臺,即現(xian)在的臺山(shan)(shan)。
那以(yi)(yi)后,白云山(shan)(shan)(shan)雖然稍低,但經玉皇(huang)大帝特批(pi)可以(yi)(yi)自成體(ti)系,在自己的(de)周圍形(xing)成低山(shan)(shan)(shan)組合。共有(you)(you)(you)山(shan)(shan)(shan)峰八八六十(shi)四座,東有(you)(you)(you)雙(shuang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)565米(mi)(mi)、掛旗(qi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)650米(mi)(mi)、火龍(long)山(shan)(shan)(shan)461米(mi)(mi)、樂山(shan)(shan)(shan)813米(mi)(mi),南有(you)(you)(you)光石(shi)垴(nao)832米(mi)(mi)、大尖(jian)山(shan)(shan)(shan)604.7米(mi)(mi)、羅漢頂760米(mi)(mi)、黑山(shan)(shan)(shan)497.5,西有(you)(you)(you)桂(gui)花山(shan)(shan)(shan)740米(mi)(mi),北有(you)(you)(you)塔山(shan)(shan)(shan)760米(mi)(mi)、龍(long)盤山(shan)(shan)(shan)604米(mi)(mi)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)連山(shan)(shan)(shan),峰連峰,秀(xiu)峻挺(ting)拔(ba),巍然峙立(li),列(lie)山(shan)(shan)(shan)如(ru)屏。脊峰北翼陡險(xian),南翼舒緩(huan)。巖(yan)層由變質(zhi)巖(yan)、混合巖(yan)、花崗巖(yan)、白云巖(yan)等。山(shan)(shan)(shan)嶺怪石(shi)天成,形(xing)態自然,原(yuan)始(shi)古樸(pu)。
白(bai)云山(shan)(shan)幽靜而(er)靈秀。地處北亞熱(re)帶(dai)向暖溫帶(dai)過渡區,屬大陸性季風(feng)(feng)氣候。氣候濕潤,雨量充沛。又有(you)天然小氣候,俗言“白(bai)茅(mao)垛(duo)戴帽(mao)(mao),淹死老(lao)道(士)”。山(shan)(shan)上有(you)水(shui)(shui)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)九(jiu)(jiu)九(jiu)(jiu)八十(shi)一眼(yan),出名(ming)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)眼(yan)有(you)張良(liang)廟泌(mi)水(shui)(shui)源(yuan)(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),立(li)陡(dou)(dou)溝(gou)柳(liu)河(he)源(yuan)(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),臺山(shan)(shan)河(he)源(yuan)(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)白(bai)龍(long)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),老(lao)河(he)源(yuan)(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)響石棚(peng)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),九(jiu)(jiu)龍(long)口紗帽(mao)(mao)翅河(he)源(yuan)(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),大橡樹龍(long)潭源(yuan)(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),棋盤(pan)嶺泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(匯(hui)入(ru)(ru)泌(mi)水(shui)(shui)),城頂山(shan)(shan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(匯(hui)入(ru)(ru)泌(mi)水(shui)(shui))等等。泉(quan)(quan)(quan)水(shui)(shui)競湊,奔涌成溪,越澗跳峽(xia)而(er)成飛瀑(pu)十(shi)數個。蔚(yu)為(wei)壯觀(guan)的瀑(pu)布有(you)龍(long)潭峽(xia)瀑(pu)布,落差(cha)(cha)近40米(mi)(mi),飛流直下,水(shui)(shui)霧彌漫;蜘蛛山(shan)(shan)三級瀑(pu)布,落差(cha)(cha)150米(mi)(mi),如(ru)蛟(jiao)龍(long)出海(hai),攜風(feng)(feng)帶(dai)雨,飛珠濺玉,經(jing)三級蹦極,呼嘯而(er)入(ru)(ru)黃(huang)龍(long)潭;九(jiu)(jiu)夢崖瀑(pu)布,落差(cha)(cha)70米(mi)(mi),似晴天響雷(lei),轟鳴之(zhi)聲傳之(zhi)數里;立(li)陡(dou)(dou)溝(gou)瀑(pu)布,落差(cha)(cha)50余米(mi)(mi),橫寬(kuan)十(shi)數丈,細(xi)流慢(man)分,如(ru)輕(qing)紗薄霧。
白云(yun)山區有(you)大(da)型水(shui)(shui)庫(ku)1座,小一、小二(er)型水(shui)(shui)庫(ku)5座。北山腳下的板(ban)橋水(shui)(shui)庫(ku)蓄水(shui)(shui)7億立方米(mi),碧波萬頃,倒映(ying)白云(yun)山雄姿。小型水(shui)(shui)庫(ku)如寶石如明鏡,鑲鉗在山間,山中(zhong)(zhong)有(you)水(shui)(shui),水(shui)(shui)中(zhong)(zhong)有(you)山,山高水(shui)(shui)闊,天然和(he)諧(xie),于雄偉(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)透著(zhu)靈秀(xiu)。
通山為(wei)林(lin)木花(hua)草覆(fu)蓋(gai),蓊郁繽紛(fen),四(si)季長青,恰(qia)如綠色的海洋。原始(shi)森(sen)林(lin)、天然次生林(lin)和(he)人工林(lin),針闊(kuo)葉種類繁多(duo),高、低交錯互生,橫無際涯,遮(zhe)天蔽日,1993年(nian)被河(he)南(nan)省政府批(pi)準為(wei)森(sen)林(lin)公園(yuan)。龍(long)潭寺側(ce),中(zhong)原馬(ma)尾松(song)王樹(shu)(shu)(shu)高百尺(chi),直(zhi)插云霄(xiao);萬僧寺中(zhong),千(qian)年(nian)銀(yin)杏一雌一雄,樹(shu)(shu)(shu)冠交合,形同夫妻(qi)。數株(zhu)千(qian)年(nian)大橡(xiang)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)和(he)張良廟千(qian)年(nian)柿(shi)樹(shu)(shu)(shu),一樹(shu)(shu)(shu)一景(jing),姿(zi)態各異。同時,密林(lin)深處棲息著狼(lang)、獾、野豬 、金錢豹(bao)、大靈(ling)貓、青羊、麝、天鵝、勺(shao)雞、白冠長尾雉、蜂(feng)鳥、大鯢(ni)、果(guo)子(zi)貍等多(duo)種動物,又有“天然動植物園(yuan)”之(zhi)譽。
白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山物華而天寶(bao)。中(zhong)藥材(cai)品(pin)種(zhong)眾多,分布(bu)廣泛(fan)。民間有(you)“從山上到平坡,除了白(bai)(bai)(bai)草都是藥”的說法(fa)。據有(you)關部(bu)門普查,白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山有(you)各類中(zhong)藥材(cai)698種(zhong),分153科,計583屬。全國(guo)重點普查的363個中(zhong)藥材(cai)品(pin)種(zhong)中(zhong),白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山出產192種(zhong)。在河南重點普查的476個中(zhong)藥材(cai)品(pin)種(zhong)中(zhong),白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山出產273種(zhong)。優質中(zhong)藥材(cai)有(you)射(she)(she)干、桔梗(geng)、柴胡、丹參、南山楂、蒼術(shu)等,大宗藥材(cai)有(you)夏(xia)枯(ku)草、南沙(sha)參、半枝蓮、益母草、金(jin)銀花、馬鞭草等。其中(zhong),射(she)(she)干、桔梗(geng)以量大質優成為(wei)北京(jing)同仁藥店藥材(cai)。1982年,河南省(sheng)醫(yi)藥總公(gong)司確定泌陽為(wei)射(she)(she)干生(sheng)產基地(di)縣。白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山畜牧養殖(zhi)條件得天獨厚,是南陽黃牛繁(fan)育基地(di)之一,是泌陽驢的中(zhong)心產地(di)。
白云(yun)山廣(guang)泛分布著白貌垛(duo)祖師廟(miao)、老爺廟(miao)、張良廟(miao)、萬(wan)僧寺(si)(si)(si)、老崇(chong)寺(si)(si)(si)、羅(luo)漢寺(si)(si)(si)、龍潭寺(si)(si)(si)和北泉寺(si)(si)(si)等眾(zhong)多(duo)古寺(si)(si)(si)廟(miao),星(xing)羅(luo)棋(qi)布著棋(qi)盤嶺(ling)、龍頭(tou)崖、龍椅、龍印(yin)、石(shi)船(chuan)、十八扭、神(shen)(shen)(shen)仙拉車、紗帽石(shi)、蛇頭(tou)石(shi)等諸多(duo)神(shen)(shen)(shen)奇景觀。城頂寨(zhai)(zhai)、闖王(wang)寨(zhai)(zhai)、大頂山寨(zhai)(zhai)、臺山寨(zhai)(zhai),寨(zhai)(zhai)寨(zhai)(zhai)相(xiang)連;火龍洞、羅(luo)漢洞、臺山洞、神(shen)(shen)(shen)仙洞,洞洞溝通。這里是(shi)神(shen)(shen)(shen)奇的仙境,是(shi)人間的天堂。