白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)主峰海拔983米,奇石如垛(duo),白(bai)(bai)云(yun)繚繞,俗稱白(bai)(bai)貌(mao)垛(duo)。明嘉(jia)靖(jing)《南陽(yang)(yang)府志·山(shan)(shan)川·泌陽(yang)(yang)縣(xian)》的記載是:“白(bai)(bai)貌(mao)垛(duo)山(shan)(shan),在(zai)縣(xian)東七十里,山(shan)(shan)之奇峰秀(xiu)麗,常有(you)白(bai)(bai)云(yun)舒卷故(gu)名(ming)”。清(qing)《泌陽(yang)(yang)縣(xian)志》具體描(miao)述為(wei):“白(bai)(bai)茅堵(垛(duo)),在(zai)縣(xian)東北七十里,山(shan)(shan)勢雄偉,俯環群山(shan)(shan),天陰雨(yu)必興云(yun)霧。山(shan)(shan)后有(you)龍潭(tan)。相(xiang)傳山(shan)(shan)上有(you)白(bai)(bai)茅大仙。每逢(feng)歲旱,鄉人無(wu)論遠近,皆往祈雨(yu),有(you)求輒應,屢著靈(ling)異。又名(ming)白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)(shan)。”
白(bai)云山(shan)(shan)古老而神(shen)奇(qi)。歷史上(shang),以(yi)(yi)其滿山(shan)(shan)青(qing)翠、如龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)在(zai)臥(wo)而曾名青(qing)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)山(shan)(shan)。自白(bai)貌(mao)(mao)垛(duo)向東(dong)北綿延至(zhi)確山(shan)(shan)境,宛若(ruo)一(yi)(yi)條(tiao)巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),白(bai)貌(mao)(mao)垛(duo)正是(shi)昂起的(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)首,石垛(duo)儼然是(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)角,槍桿嶺一(yi)(yi)如龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)須,龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)口噴吐著云霧飛(fei)(fei)瀑(九龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)瀑),龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)尾(wei)翹立(li)在(zai)平疇綠野(樂(le)山(shan)(shan)),一(yi)(yi)派意欲騰飛(fei)(fei)、活(huo)靈活(huo)現(xian)的(de)(de)蒼龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)容貌(mao)(mao),古人以(yi)(yi)“貌(mao)(mao)朵龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)容”列為泌陽(yang)八景之(zhi)一(yi)(yi),載入《南陽(yang)府志》。尤為神(shen)奇(qi)的(de)(de)是(shi),在(zai)這條(tiao)巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)身旁(pang)有龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)盤山(shan)(shan)、桂花山(shan)(shan)、羅漢(han)頂(ding)、大頂(ding)子、城頂(ding)山(shan)(shan)、棋盤、蜀山(shan)(shan)、掛旗山(shan)(shan)、千年嶺諸峰(feng)盤桓來朝,如龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)拱衛;有黃龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)潭、黑龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)潭、響水潭、白(bai)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)泉、火龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)泉、立(li)陡溝泉、響石棚泉等眾水相向,潤澤(ze)滋養(yang)。可謂九龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)蟠曲,祥瑞紛呈。
傳說(shuo)遠古時候,這里是(shi)一片(pian)深(shen)海(hai)(hai),與東(dong)海(hai)(hai)相連(lian)。天塌地(di)陷以(yi)后,海(hai)(hai)水(shui)迅(xun)速東(dong)泄,這里的老龍(long)王(wang)把宮中金銀珠(zhu)寶(bao)(bao)裝了一船,與龍(long)子(zi)龍(long)孫一起隨水(shui)搬(ban)家。太白金星見狀(zhuang)急奏玉皇大(da)帝:中原(yuan)寶(bao)(bao)貝不能流失東(dong)海(hai)(hai)。遂(sui)作法退水(shui),寶(bao)(bao)船擱淺在今(jin)東(dong)雙山(shan)老爺廟處,大(da)橡樹就是(shi)大(da)船桅桿。老龍(long)與子(zi)孫也化石為山(shan),構(gou)了如今(jin)的白云山(shan)系(xi)。
神話見證著歷史(shi)。25億年前,太古界地(di)層(ceng)出露桐柏山(shan)(shan)群,分(fen)布在羊冊—王(wang)店大斷(duan)(duan)裂(lie)以北華山(shan)(shan)水庫—宋(song)溝(gou)、竹林—白(bai)云山(shan)(shan)一(yi)帶(dai)。歷元古界—新生(sheng)(sheng)界,經中條、王(wang)屋(wu)、燕山(shan)(shan)構(gou)造運(yun)動,地(di)層(ceng)發生(sheng)(sheng)變質、褶(zhe)皺和斷(duan)(duan)裂(lie),產生(sheng)(sheng)不同成(cheng)因(yin)的(de)巖漿活(huo)動,形(xing)成(cheng)白(bai)云山(shan)(shan)現在的(de)地(di)質地(di)貌。
白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)雄壯而質樸。山(shan)(shan)(shan)體呈東北——西南走向,與桐柏山(shan)(shan)(shan)主峰(feng)太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂遙遙相(xiang)望,成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)豫南雙峰(feng)星座,高大深厚,威(wei)武雄壯。民間(jian)傳說(shuo)當初太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂與白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)相(xiang)約一同往高處長(chang),看誰(shui)(shui)長(chang)得(de)又(you)快(kuai)又(you)高,并約定日出而長(chang),日落而息。誰(shui)(shui)知,白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)下有竹(zhu)林(lin)晚(wan)照,天黑得(de)晚(wan),多長(chang)了一個時辰。太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂雖為(wei)主峰(feng)卻矮了一截(jie),它(ta)急(ji)白(bai)(bai)(bai)了頂,便到(dao)(dao)玉(yu)皇(huang)大帝那里(li)訴說(shuo)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)超越主峰(feng)。玉(yu)皇(huang)大帝派太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)金星下界(jie)用其(qi)拂塵掃了一下,把白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)峰(feng)尖(jian)掃落到(dao)(dao)東邊而成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)樂(落)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)平(ping)坦無(wu)峰(feng)怎么辦?太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)金星又(you)派眾山(shan)(shan)(shan)神抬(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)南一山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂的石垛子放到(dao)(dao)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂而成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)白(bai)(bai)(bai)貌垛。抬(tai)走山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂的山(shan)(shan)(shan)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)了平(ping)臺,即現在的臺山(shan)(shan)(shan)。
那以后,白(bai)云山(shan)(shan)(shan)雖然(ran)稍低,但(dan)經玉皇大帝特批(pi)可以自成體系,在自己的(de)周圍形成低山(shan)(shan)(shan)組合。共(gong)有(you)(you)山(shan)(shan)(shan)峰(feng)八(ba)八(ba)六十四座,東有(you)(you)雙(shuang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)565米、掛旗山(shan)(shan)(shan)650米、火龍(long)山(shan)(shan)(shan)461米、樂山(shan)(shan)(shan)813米,南有(you)(you)光石垴(nao)832米、大尖(jian)山(shan)(shan)(shan)604.7米、羅(luo)漢頂760米、黑山(shan)(shan)(shan)497.5,西(xi)有(you)(you)桂花山(shan)(shan)(shan)740米,北有(you)(you)塔山(shan)(shan)(shan)760米、龍(long)盤山(shan)(shan)(shan)604米。山(shan)(shan)(shan)連山(shan)(shan)(shan),峰(feng)連峰(feng),秀峻挺拔,巍然(ran)峙立,列山(shan)(shan)(shan)如屏。脊峰(feng)北翼陡(dou)險,南翼舒(shu)緩。巖(yan)層由變(bian)質(zhi)巖(yan)、混合巖(yan)、花崗巖(yan)、白(bai)云巖(yan)等(deng)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)嶺怪石天成,形態(tai)自然(ran),原始古(gu)樸。
白云山(shan)幽靜(jing)而靈秀。地處北亞(ya)熱(re)帶(dai)向暖溫帶(dai)過渡(du)區,屬(shu)大陸性季(ji)風氣(qi)候。氣(qi)候濕潤(run),雨量充沛。又有(you)天然小氣(qi)候,俗言“白茅垛戴帽,淹死老(lao)(lao)道(士)”。山(shan)上有(you)水(shui)(shui)(shui)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)九(jiu)(jiu)九(jiu)(jiu)八(ba)十一眼,出名泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)眼有(you)張良廟泌(mi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),立(li)陡(dou)溝(gou)柳河源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),臺山(shan)河源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)白龍(long)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),老(lao)(lao)河源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)響石(shi)棚泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),九(jiu)(jiu)龍(long)口紗帽翅河源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),大橡樹(shu)龍(long)潭源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),棋盤(pan)嶺泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)(匯入泌(mi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)),城(cheng)頂山(shan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)(匯入泌(mi)水(shui)(shui)(shui))等(deng)等(deng)。泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)水(shui)(shui)(shui)競(jing)湊(cou),奔涌成溪,越澗跳峽而成飛(fei)瀑(pu)十數(shu)個(ge)。蔚為壯觀的瀑(pu)布有(you)龍(long)潭峽瀑(pu)布,落(luo)(luo)(luo)差(cha)(cha)近(jin)40米,飛(fei)流直下(xia),水(shui)(shui)(shui)霧彌漫;蜘蛛(zhu)山(shan)三級瀑(pu)布,落(luo)(luo)(luo)差(cha)(cha)150米,如(ru)蛟龍(long)出海,攜風帶(dai)雨,飛(fei)珠濺玉,經三級蹦極,呼嘯(xiao)而入黃龍(long)潭;九(jiu)(jiu)夢崖瀑(pu)布,落(luo)(luo)(luo)差(cha)(cha)70米,似晴(qing)天響雷,轟鳴(ming)之聲傳之數(shu)里;立(li)陡(dou)溝(gou)瀑(pu)布,落(luo)(luo)(luo)差(cha)(cha)50余(yu)米,橫寬十數(shu)丈,細流慢分,如(ru)輕紗薄(bo)霧。
白云(yun)山區(qu)有(you)大型(xing)水(shui)(shui)庫1座,小(xiao)一(yi)、小(xiao)二型(xing)水(shui)(shui)庫5座。北山腳下的板(ban)橋水(shui)(shui)庫蓄水(shui)(shui)7億立方(fang)米,碧波萬頃,倒映白云(yun)山雄(xiong)姿。小(xiao)型(xing)水(shui)(shui)庫如寶石如明鏡,鑲(xiang)鉗在山間,山中(zhong)有(you)水(shui)(shui),水(shui)(shui)中(zhong)有(you)山,山高水(shui)(shui)闊(kuo),天(tian)然(ran)和(he)諧,于雄(xiong)偉中(zhong)透著靈秀。
通山(shan)為林木(mu)花草覆蓋,蓊郁繽紛,四季長青,恰(qia)如綠(lv)色的海(hai)洋。原始森林、天(tian)然(ran)次生(sheng)林和人工林,針闊(kuo)葉種類繁多,高(gao)、低交錯互生(sheng),橫無際(ji)涯(ya),遮天(tian)蔽(bi)日,1993年被(bei)河(he)南省政府批準(zhun)為森林公園(yuan)。龍潭寺側,中原馬尾(wei)松王樹(shu)高(gao)百尺,直(zhi)插云霄;萬僧(seng)寺中,千年銀杏(xing)一(yi)(yi)雌一(yi)(yi)雄,樹(shu)冠(guan)交合,形同夫妻。數株千年大橡樹(shu)和張良(liang)廟千年柿樹(shu),一(yi)(yi)樹(shu)一(yi)(yi)景(jing),姿態各異。同時,密林深處棲(qi)息著狼、獾(huan)、野豬 、金錢(qian)豹(bao)、大靈(ling)貓、青羊、麝、天(tian)鵝(e)、勺雞、白冠(guan)長尾(wei)雉、蜂鳥(niao)、大鯢(ni)、果子貍(li)等多種動物,又有“天(tian)然(ran)動植物園(yuan)”之譽。
白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山物華而天(tian)寶。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種眾(zhong)多,分布廣泛(fan)。民間有(you)“從(cong)山上到平坡,除了白(bai)(bai)草(cao)都是藥”的說法。據(ju)有(you)關部(bu)門普查,白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山有(you)各類中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥材(cai)(cai)(cai)698種,分153科(ke),計(ji)583屬。全國重點普查的363個中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山出產(chan)192種。在河(he)南(nan)(nan)重點普查的476個中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥材(cai)(cai)(cai)品種中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山出產(chan)273種。優質(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)藥材(cai)(cai)(cai)有(you)射(she)干(gan)、桔梗、柴(chai)胡、丹參、南(nan)(nan)山楂、蒼術等(deng),大宗(zong)藥材(cai)(cai)(cai)有(you)夏(xia)枯草(cao)、南(nan)(nan)沙參、半枝蓮、益母草(cao)、金銀花、馬鞭(bian)草(cao)等(deng)。其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),射(she)干(gan)、桔梗以量(liang)大質(zhi)優成為(wei)北京(jing)同仁藥店藥材(cai)(cai)(cai)。1982年,河(he)南(nan)(nan)省醫藥總(zong)公司確定泌陽為(wei)射(she)干(gan)生(sheng)產(chan)基(ji)地縣。白(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山畜牧(mu)養殖條件得天(tian)獨厚(hou),是南(nan)(nan)陽黃(huang)牛繁(fan)育基(ji)地之一,是泌陽驢(lv)的中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心產(chan)地。
白(bai)(bai)云(yun)山(shan)廣(guang)泛(fan)分布著白(bai)(bai)貌垛祖師廟、老爺廟、張良廟、萬僧寺(si)(si)(si)、老崇寺(si)(si)(si)、羅漢寺(si)(si)(si)、龍(long)潭寺(si)(si)(si)和北泉寺(si)(si)(si)等眾多(duo)古寺(si)(si)(si)廟,星(xing)羅棋布著棋盤嶺、龍(long)頭崖、龍(long)椅、龍(long)印、石(shi)船、十八扭、神仙拉車、紗帽石(shi)、蛇頭石(shi)等諸多(duo)神奇景觀。城頂(ding)寨(zhai)、闖(chuang)王寨(zhai)、大(da)頂(ding)山(shan)寨(zhai)、臺山(shan)寨(zhai),寨(zhai)寨(zhai)相(xiang)連;火龍(long)洞(dong)、羅漢洞(dong)、臺山(shan)洞(dong)、神仙洞(dong),洞(dong)洞(dong)溝通。這里(li)是神奇的仙境,是人間的天(tian)堂(tang)。