白(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)主(zhu)峰海拔983米,奇石如垛,白(bai)云(yun)(yun)繚繞(rao),俗稱(cheng)白(bai)貌(mao)垛。明嘉靖《南陽府志(zhi)·山(shan)川·泌陽縣(xian)(xian)》的(de)記載是(shi):“白(bai)貌(mao)垛山(shan),在(zai)縣(xian)(xian)東七(qi)(qi)十(shi)里,山(shan)之奇峰秀麗,常(chang)有(you)白(bai)云(yun)(yun)舒卷故(gu)名”。清《泌陽縣(xian)(xian)志(zhi)》具體描(miao)述為(wei):“白(bai)茅(mao)堵(垛),在(zai)縣(xian)(xian)東北七(qi)(qi)十(shi)里,山(shan)勢雄(xiong)偉,俯環群山(shan),天(tian)陰雨必興(xing)云(yun)(yun)霧。山(shan)后(hou)有(you)龍潭。相傳山(shan)上有(you)白(bai)茅(mao)大(da)仙。每逢歲旱,鄉人(ren)無論遠近(jin),皆(jie)往(wang)祈(qi)雨,有(you)求輒應,屢著靈異。又名白(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)。”
白(bai)云(yun)(yun)山古老而(er)神奇。歷史(shi)上,以其滿山青翠、如(ru)(ru)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)在臥而(er)曾(ceng)名青龍(long)(long)(long)(long)山。自白(bai)貌(mao)垛向東北綿延至(zhi)確(que)山境,宛(wan)若一(yi)條巨龍(long)(long)(long)(long),白(bai)貌(mao)垛正是(shi)昂起(qi)的(de)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)首,石垛儼然是(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)角(jiao),槍(qiang)桿嶺(ling)(ling)一(yi)如(ru)(ru)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)須,龍(long)(long)(long)(long)口(kou)噴吐著(zhu)云(yun)(yun)霧(wu)飛瀑(pu)(pu)(九(jiu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)瀑(pu)(pu)),龍(long)(long)(long)(long)尾翹(qiao)立(li)在平疇綠野(樂山),一(yi)派意欲騰飛、活靈活現(xian)的(de)蒼(cang)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)容貌(mao),古人(ren)以“貌(mao)朵龍(long)(long)(long)(long)容”列為泌陽(yang)八景之(zhi)一(yi),載入(ru)《南陽(yang)府(fu)志》。尤為神奇的(de)是(shi),在這條巨龍(long)(long)(long)(long)身旁有龍(long)(long)(long)(long)盤(pan)山、桂花山、羅漢(han)頂(ding)、大頂(ding)子、城頂(ding)山、棋盤(pan)、蜀山、掛旗山、千(qian)年(nian)嶺(ling)(ling)諸峰盤(pan)桓(huan)來(lai)朝,如(ru)(ru)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)拱衛;有黃龍(long)(long)(long)(long)潭、黑龍(long)(long)(long)(long)潭、響水(shui)潭、白(bai)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)泉、火龍(long)(long)(long)(long)泉、立(li)陡(dou)溝泉、響石棚泉等眾水(shui)相(xiang)向,潤(run)澤滋養。可(ke)謂九(jiu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)蟠(pan)曲,祥瑞紛呈。
傳說(shuo)遠古時候,這里是一片深海(hai),與東(dong)海(hai)相連。天塌地陷以后(hou),海(hai)水(shui)迅速東(dong)泄(xie),這里的老龍王把宮中金銀(yin)珠(zhu)寶(bao)裝(zhuang)了(le)一船,與龍子(zi)(zi)龍孫一起隨(sui)水(shui)搬家。太(tai)白金星(xing)見(jian)狀急奏(zou)玉(yu)皇大帝:中原寶(bao)貝(bei)不能流失東(dong)海(hai)。遂作法退水(shui),寶(bao)船擱淺(qian)在今東(dong)雙山老爺廟(miao)處,大橡樹就是大船桅桿。老龍與子(zi)(zi)孫也化石(shi)為山,構了(le)如今的白云山系。
神話見(jian)證著歷(li)(li)史(shi)。25億年前,太(tai)古(gu)界(jie)(jie)地層出露桐柏山(shan)(shan)群(qun),分布在羊冊—王(wang)店大斷裂以北(bei)華(hua)山(shan)(shan)水庫—宋溝、竹(zhu)林—白云山(shan)(shan)一帶(dai)。歷(li)(li)元古(gu)界(jie)(jie)—新生(sheng)(sheng)界(jie)(jie),經中條、王(wang)屋(wu)、燕(yan)山(shan)(shan)構(gou)造運動,地層發(fa)生(sheng)(sheng)變質(zhi)、褶皺和斷裂,產(chan)生(sheng)(sheng)不同(tong)成因的巖(yan)漿活動,形成白云山(shan)(shan)現在的地質(zhi)地貌(mao)。
白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)雄(xiong)壯(zhuang)而(er)(er)質樸。山(shan)(shan)(shan)體呈東北——西(xi)南(nan)走(zou)向,與桐柏山(shan)(shan)(shan)主(zhu)峰(feng)(feng)太(tai)白(bai)頂遙遙相(xiang)望,成(cheng)為豫南(nan)雙峰(feng)(feng)星座,高大(da)(da)深厚,威武(wu)雄(xiong)壯(zhuang)。民間傳說當初太(tai)白(bai)頂與白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)相(xiang)約(yue)一(yi)同往高處長,看誰長得又快又高,并約(yue)定日出(chu)而(er)(er)長,日落而(er)(er)息。誰知,白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)下(xia)有竹林晚(wan)照,天(tian)黑(hei)得晚(wan),多長了一(yi)個時辰(chen)。太(tai)白(bai)頂雖為主(zhu)峰(feng)(feng)卻矮了一(yi)截(jie),它急白(bai)了頂,便到(dao)玉(yu)皇大(da)(da)帝那(nei)里訴(su)說白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)超越主(zhu)峰(feng)(feng)。玉(yu)皇大(da)(da)帝派太(tai)白(bai)金星下(xia)界(jie)用(yong)其拂塵掃(sao)了一(yi)下(xia),把白(bai)云(yun)峰(feng)(feng)尖掃(sao)落到(dao)東邊而(er)(er)成(cheng)樂(落)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)平(ping)坦(tan)無峰(feng)(feng)怎么辦?太(tai)白(bai)金星又派眾山(shan)(shan)(shan)神抬白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)南(nan)一(yi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂的(de)石垛子放到(dao)白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂而(er)(er)成(cheng)白(bai)貌垛。抬走(zou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂的(de)山(shan)(shan)(shan)成(cheng)了平(ping)臺,即現(xian)在的(de)臺山(shan)(shan)(shan)。
那以后,白云山(shan)雖(sui)然稍低,但經(jing)玉皇大(da)帝特批(pi)可以自(zi)成體系,在自(zi)己(ji)的周圍形成低山(shan)組(zu)合(he)(he)。共(gong)有(you)(you)山(shan)峰(feng)(feng)八八六十四座,東有(you)(you)雙(shuang)山(shan)565米(mi)(mi)(mi)、掛旗(qi)山(shan)650米(mi)(mi)(mi)、火龍山(shan)461米(mi)(mi)(mi)、樂山(shan)813米(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)有(you)(you)光石(shi)垴832米(mi)(mi)(mi)、大(da)尖(jian)山(shan)604.7米(mi)(mi)(mi)、羅漢頂760米(mi)(mi)(mi)、黑山(shan)497.5,西有(you)(you)桂花(hua)山(shan)740米(mi)(mi)(mi),北(bei)有(you)(you)塔山(shan)760米(mi)(mi)(mi)、龍盤山(shan)604米(mi)(mi)(mi)。山(shan)連山(shan),峰(feng)(feng)連峰(feng)(feng),秀峻(jun)挺拔,巍(wei)然峙立,列山(shan)如屏。脊峰(feng)(feng)北(bei)翼(yi)陡(dou)險,南(nan)翼(yi)舒(shu)緩。巖層由(you)變質巖、混合(he)(he)巖、花(hua)崗巖、白云巖等。山(shan)嶺怪石(shi)天成,形態(tai)自(zi)然,原(yuan)始古樸。
白(bai)云山幽(you)靜而(er)(er)靈秀。地處北亞熱帶向(xiang)暖溫帶過渡區,屬(shu)大(da)陸性季風氣候(hou)(hou)。氣候(hou)(hou)濕潤,雨(yu)量充沛。又有(you)(you)天(tian)然(ran)小氣候(hou)(hou),俗(su)言(yan)“白(bai)茅(mao)垛(duo)戴帽,淹死老(lao)道(士(shi))”。山上有(you)(you)水泉(quan)(quan)(quan)九九八十(shi)(shi)一眼(yan),出(chu)(chu)名泉(quan)(quan)(quan)眼(yan)有(you)(you)張良廟(miao)泌水源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),立陡溝(gou)柳河源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),臺(tai)山河源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)白(bai)龍(long)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),老(lao)河源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)響石棚(peng)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),九龍(long)口紗帽翅(chi)河源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),大(da)橡樹龍(long)潭(tan)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan),棋盤嶺泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(匯入泌水),城頂山泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(匯入泌水)等等。泉(quan)(quan)(quan)水競湊,奔涌成溪,越澗跳峽而(er)(er)成飛瀑(pu)(pu)(pu)十(shi)(shi)數(shu)個。蔚為壯觀的瀑(pu)(pu)(pu)布有(you)(you)龍(long)潭(tan)峽瀑(pu)(pu)(pu)布,落(luo)差(cha)(cha)近(jin)40米(mi),飛流(liu)直(zhi)下,水霧(wu)彌漫;蜘蛛山三級(ji)瀑(pu)(pu)(pu)布,落(luo)差(cha)(cha)150米(mi),如蛟龍(long)出(chu)(chu)海,攜風帶雨(yu),飛珠濺玉,經三級(ji)蹦極(ji),呼嘯(xiao)而(er)(er)入黃龍(long)潭(tan);九夢崖瀑(pu)(pu)(pu)布,落(luo)差(cha)(cha)70米(mi),似晴天(tian)響雷,轟鳴之(zhi)(zhi)聲傳之(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)里;立陡溝(gou)瀑(pu)(pu)(pu)布,落(luo)差(cha)(cha)50余(yu)米(mi),橫(heng)寬十(shi)(shi)數(shu)丈,細流(liu)慢分,如輕紗薄霧(wu)。
白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)區有(you)大型(xing)水(shui)庫(ku)1座(zuo),小(xiao)一、小(xiao)二型(xing)水(shui)庫(ku)5座(zuo)。北山(shan)(shan)腳下的板橋(qiao)水(shui)庫(ku)蓄水(shui)7億立方(fang)米,碧波(bo)萬頃,倒(dao)映白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)雄(xiong)姿。小(xiao)型(xing)水(shui)庫(ku)如寶石如明鏡,鑲鉗在山(shan)(shan)間,山(shan)(shan)中有(you)水(shui),水(shui)中有(you)山(shan)(shan),山(shan)(shan)高水(shui)闊,天然(ran)和諧,于雄(xiong)偉中透著靈(ling)秀。
通山為林木(mu)花草覆(fu)蓋,蓊郁繽紛,四季長青,恰如綠色的(de)海洋。原始森(sen)林、天(tian)(tian)然次生林和人工林,針闊葉種類繁多,高(gao)、低交錯互生,橫無際涯,遮(zhe)天(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日,1993年被河南省政府(fu)批準為森(sen)林公園。龍潭(tan)寺側(ce),中原馬尾松王樹高(gao)百(bai)尺,直插(cha)云霄(xiao);萬僧寺中,千(qian)(qian)年銀杏一雌一雄(xiong),樹冠交合,形(xing)同夫(fu)妻。數株千(qian)(qian)年大(da)橡樹和張良廟千(qian)(qian)年柿樹,一樹一景,姿態各異(yi)。同時(shi),密林深處(chu)棲息著狼(lang)、獾、野豬 、金錢豹(bao)、大(da)靈(ling)貓、青羊、麝、天(tian)(tian)鵝、勺雞(ji)、白冠長尾雉(zhi)、蜂鳥(niao)、大(da)鯢、果子貍(li)等(deng)多種動物,又有(you)“天(tian)(tian)然動植物園”之譽(yu)。
白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)物(wu)華而天(tian)寶。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)品種(zhong)眾多(duo),分布廣泛(fan)。民(min)間(jian)有(you)(you)“從山(shan)(shan)上到平坡(po),除(chu)了白(bai)(bai)(bai)草都(dou)是藥(yao)(yao)(yao)”的說法。據有(you)(you)關部(bu)門(men)普查,白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)有(you)(you)各類(lei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)698種(zhong),分153科,計583屬。全國重(zhong)點普查的363個中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)品種(zhong)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)出產192種(zhong)。在河南重(zhong)點普查的476個中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)品種(zhong)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)出產273種(zhong)。優質中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)有(you)(you)射干、桔梗、柴胡、丹參(can)、南山(shan)(shan)楂、蒼術等,大宗藥(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)有(you)(you)夏枯草、南沙(sha)參(can)、半枝(zhi)蓮、益母草、金銀花、馬鞭草等。其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),射干、桔梗以量(liang)大質優成為北京同仁藥(yao)(yao)(yao)店藥(yao)(yao)(yao)材(cai)。1982年(nian),河南省醫藥(yao)(yao)(yao)總公司(si)確定泌陽為射干生產基地縣(xian)。白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)畜(chu)牧養(yang)殖條件(jian)得天(tian)獨厚,是南陽黃牛(niu)繁育基地之一,是泌陽驢的中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心產地。
白云山廣泛分布(bu)著(zhu)白貌垛(duo)祖師(shi)廟、老爺廟、張良廟、萬僧寺(si)、老崇寺(si)、羅漢寺(si)、龍(long)(long)潭(tan)寺(si)和北(bei)泉(quan)寺(si)等眾多(duo)古寺(si)廟,星羅棋(qi)布(bu)著(zhu)棋(qi)盤嶺、龍(long)(long)頭(tou)崖、龍(long)(long)椅、龍(long)(long)印(yin)、石船、十八扭、神(shen)(shen)仙(xian)拉車、紗帽(mao)石、蛇頭(tou)石等諸多(duo)神(shen)(shen)奇(qi)景觀。城頂寨、闖(chuang)王寨、大頂山寨、臺山寨,寨寨相連;火(huo)龍(long)(long)洞(dong)、羅漢洞(dong)、臺山洞(dong)、神(shen)(shen)仙(xian)洞(dong),洞(dong)洞(dong)溝通。這里是神(shen)(shen)奇(qi)的仙(xian)境(jing),是人(ren)間的天(tian)堂。