白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)主峰海拔(ba)983米,奇(qi)石如垛(duo)(duo),白(bai)云(yun)繚繞,俗稱(cheng)白(bai)貌垛(duo)(duo)。明嘉靖《南陽府志(zhi)·山(shan)川(chuan)·泌陽縣(xian)》的記(ji)載是:“白(bai)貌垛(duo)(duo)山(shan),在縣(xian)東(dong)七十里(li),山(shan)之奇(qi)峰秀麗,常有白(bai)云(yun)舒卷(juan)故(gu)名(ming)(ming)”。清《泌陽縣(xian)志(zhi)》具體描述(shu)為:“白(bai)茅(mao)堵(垛(duo)(duo)),在縣(xian)東(dong)北七十里(li),山(shan)勢雄偉,俯環群山(shan),天陰雨(yu)必興云(yun)霧。山(shan)后(hou)有龍潭。相傳山(shan)上有白(bai)茅(mao)大仙。每逢歲旱,鄉人無(wu)論遠近(jin),皆往祈(qi)雨(yu),有求輒應,屢著靈異(yi)。又(you)名(ming)(ming)白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)。”
白(bai)云(yun)山(shan)古老而神奇。歷史上,以其(qi)滿山(shan)青翠、如(ru)(ru)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)在(zai)臥而曾名青龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)山(shan)。自白(bai)貌垛向(xiang)東(dong)北綿延至確山(shan)境,宛若一(yi)條巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),白(bai)貌垛正是昂起的龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)首(shou),石(shi)垛儼然是龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)角,槍桿嶺(ling)一(yi)如(ru)(ru)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)須,龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)口噴(pen)吐(tu)著云(yun)霧(wu)飛瀑(九(jiu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)瀑),龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)尾翹立(li)在(zai)平疇綠野(ye)(樂山(shan)),一(yi)派意欲(yu)騰飛、活靈活現的蒼龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)容(rong)貌,古人以“貌朵龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)容(rong)”列為(wei)(wei)泌(mi)陽八景之(zhi)一(yi),載入《南陽府志》。尤(you)為(wei)(wei)神奇的是,在(zai)這(zhe)條巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)身旁有龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)盤(pan)山(shan)、桂花(hua)山(shan)、羅漢頂、大頂子、城(cheng)頂山(shan)、棋(qi)盤(pan)、蜀山(shan)、掛旗山(shan)、千年嶺(ling)諸峰(feng)盤(pan)桓來(lai)朝,如(ru)(ru)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)拱衛(wei);有黃龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)潭(tan)(tan)、黑(hei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)潭(tan)(tan)、響水潭(tan)(tan)、白(bai)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)、火龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)泉(quan)、立(li)陡溝泉(quan)、響石(shi)棚泉(quan)等眾水相向(xiang),潤澤滋養。可謂九(jiu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)蟠曲,祥瑞紛呈。
傳說遠古時候(hou),這(zhe)里是(shi)一(yi)片深海,與(yu)(yu)東(dong)海相連(lian)。天塌地陷以后,海水(shui)迅速(su)東(dong)泄(xie),這(zhe)里的老龍(long)(long)王(wang)把宮(gong)中金銀珠(zhu)寶(bao)裝了一(yi)船,與(yu)(yu)龍(long)(long)子(zi)龍(long)(long)孫一(yi)起隨水(shui)搬家(jia)。太(tai)白金星見狀急(ji)奏玉皇大(da)帝:中原寶(bao)貝不能流失東(dong)海。遂作(zuo)法退水(shui),寶(bao)船擱(ge)淺在今東(dong)雙山老爺廟處(chu),大(da)橡樹(shu)就是(shi)大(da)船桅桿。老龍(long)(long)與(yu)(yu)子(zi)孫也(ye)化石為山,構了如(ru)今的白云山系(xi)。
神話(hua)見證(zheng)著歷史。25億年前,太(tai)古界地(di)(di)層出露桐柏山(shan)群,分布在(zai)羊冊—王(wang)店大斷裂以(yi)北華山(shan)水庫—宋溝(gou)、竹林—白云山(shan)一帶。歷元古界—新(xin)生界,經中條、王(wang)屋、燕山(shan)構造運動,地(di)(di)層發生變質、褶皺(zhou)和斷裂,產(chan)生不同成因的巖漿活(huo)動,形成白云山(shan)現在(zai)的地(di)(di)質地(di)(di)貌。
白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)雄(xiong)壯而質(zhi)樸(pu)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)體呈(cheng)東北——西南(nan)走向,與(yu)桐柏山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)主峰太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂(ding)(ding)遙遙相(xiang)望,成為豫南(nan)雙峰星座,高大(da)(da)深(shen)厚(hou),威武雄(xiong)壯。民間傳(chuan)說(shuo)當初太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂(ding)(ding)與(yu)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)相(xiang)約一同(tong)往高處長(chang),看誰長(chang)得(de)又(you)快又(you)高,并約定日(ri)出(chu)而長(chang),日(ri)落而息。誰知,白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)下有竹林晚照(zhao),天黑得(de)晚,多(duo)長(chang)了一個(ge)時辰。太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)頂(ding)(ding)雖(sui)為主峰卻矮了一截,它急白(bai)(bai)(bai)了頂(ding)(ding),便(bian)到玉(yu)皇大(da)(da)帝那里訴說(shuo)白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)超越主峰。玉(yu)皇大(da)(da)帝派太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)金星下界用其(qi)拂塵掃了一下,把白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)峰尖掃落到東邊而成樂(落)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)平坦無峰怎么辦?太(tai)白(bai)(bai)(bai)金星又(you)派眾山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)神抬白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)南(nan)一山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)(ding)的石垛(duo)(duo)子放到白(bai)(bai)(bai)云(yun)(yun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)(ding)而成白(bai)(bai)(bai)貌垛(duo)(duo)。抬走山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)(ding)的山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)成了平臺,即現在的臺山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。
那以后,白云山雖然(ran)稍低(di)(di),但經玉皇大帝特(te)批可(ke)以自成體系(xi),在自己的周圍(wei)形成低(di)(di)山組(zu)合。共有(you)(you)山峰(feng)(feng)八八六十四座,東(dong)有(you)(you)雙山565米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、掛(gua)旗山650米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、火龍山461米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、樂(le)山813米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)有(you)(you)光石(shi)垴832米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、大尖山604.7米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、羅漢頂760米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、黑山497.5,西有(you)(you)桂花(hua)山740米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),北有(you)(you)塔山760米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、龍盤(pan)山604米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。山連(lian)山,峰(feng)(feng)連(lian)峰(feng)(feng),秀峻(jun)挺拔,巍然(ran)峙立(li),列山如(ru)屏。脊峰(feng)(feng)北翼陡險,南(nan)翼舒緩(huan)。巖(yan)層(ceng)由變質巖(yan)、混合巖(yan)、花(hua)崗巖(yan)、白云巖(yan)等。山嶺怪石(shi)天(tian)成,形態自然(ran),原始古(gu)樸。
白云山幽(you)靜而靈秀(xiu)。地(di)處北亞熱帶(dai)向(xiang)暖溫帶(dai)過(guo)渡區,屬大(da)陸性(xing)季風氣(qi)(qi)(qi)候(hou)(hou)。氣(qi)(qi)(qi)候(hou)(hou)濕潤,雨(yu)量(liang)充沛。又(you)有(you)(you)天然小氣(qi)(qi)(qi)候(hou)(hou),俗言“白茅垛戴帽(mao),淹死老道(士(shi))”。山上(shang)有(you)(you)水(shui)(shui)泉(quan)(quan)九九八十(shi)一(yi)眼,出(chu)名(ming)泉(quan)(quan)眼有(you)(you)張良廟(miao)泌水(shui)(shui)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan),立陡(dou)(dou)溝(gou)柳河(he)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan),臺山河(he)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)白龍泉(quan)(quan),老河(he)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan)響石棚泉(quan)(quan),九龍口紗(sha)帽(mao)翅河(he)源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan),大(da)橡樹龍潭源(yuan)泉(quan)(quan),棋(qi)盤(pan)嶺泉(quan)(quan)(匯入(ru)泌水(shui)(shui)),城頂山泉(quan)(quan)(匯入(ru)泌水(shui)(shui))等(deng)等(deng)。泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)(shui)競湊,奔涌成溪,越澗(jian)跳峽而成飛瀑(pu)十(shi)數個。蔚(yu)為壯觀的(de)瀑(pu)布有(you)(you)龍潭峽瀑(pu)布,落差(cha)近(jin)40米,飛流直下,水(shui)(shui)霧(wu)彌漫;蜘蛛(zhu)山三級瀑(pu)布,落差(cha)150米,如(ru)(ru)蛟龍出(chu)海(hai),攜風帶(dai)雨(yu),飛珠濺玉,經三級蹦極,呼(hu)嘯而入(ru)黃龍潭;九夢崖瀑(pu)布,落差(cha)70米,似晴天響雷,轟鳴之(zhi)聲傳之(zhi)數里;立陡(dou)(dou)溝(gou)瀑(pu)布,落差(cha)50余米,橫寬(kuan)十(shi)數丈,細流慢分,如(ru)(ru)輕紗(sha)薄霧(wu)。
白云山(shan)區有(you)大型(xing)(xing)水(shui)庫(ku)1座(zuo),小(xiao)一、小(xiao)二型(xing)(xing)水(shui)庫(ku)5座(zuo)。北山(shan)腳下的(de)板橋水(shui)庫(ku)蓄(xu)水(shui)7億立(li)方米,碧波萬頃,倒映(ying)白云山(shan)雄(xiong)姿。小(xiao)型(xing)(xing)水(shui)庫(ku)如寶石如明鏡,鑲鉗在(zai)山(shan)間,山(shan)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)水(shui),水(shui)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)山(shan),山(shan)高水(shui)闊,天然和(he)諧,于雄(xiong)偉中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)透著靈秀。
通(tong)山(shan)為(wei)林(lin)木花草覆蓋,蓊郁繽紛(fen),四季長(chang)青,恰如綠色的海洋(yang)。原始(shi)森林(lin)、天然次生林(lin)和人工林(lin),針闊葉種類繁多(duo),高、低交錯互(hu)生,橫無際涯,遮天蔽日,1993年(nian)被河南省政府批準為(wei)森林(lin)公(gong)園。龍潭(tan)寺(si)側,中(zhong)原馬尾松王樹高百(bai)尺(chi),直插云霄;萬僧(seng)寺(si)中(zhong),千年(nian)銀杏一雌(ci)一雄,樹冠交合(he),形同(tong)夫妻。數株千年(nian)大(da)(da)橡樹和張良廟千年(nian)柿樹,一樹一景(jing),姿態各異。同(tong)時(shi),密(mi)林(lin)深處棲息著狼(lang)、獾、野(ye)豬 、金錢豹、大(da)(da)靈貓(mao)、青羊、麝、天鵝、勺雞(ji)、白(bai)冠長(chang)尾雉、蜂鳥(niao)、大(da)(da)鯢(ni)、果子貍(li)等多(duo)種動物,又有(you)“天然動植(zhi)物園”之譽。
白(bai)云山物華而(er)天寶。中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)眾(zhong)多,分(fen)布廣泛。民間(jian)有(you)(you)“從山上(shang)到平坡(po),除(chu)了白(bai)草(cao)(cao)都(dou)是(shi)(shi)藥(yao)(yao)”的(de)說法。據有(you)(you)關(guan)部門普(pu)查(cha),白(bai)云山有(you)(you)各類中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)698種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),分(fen)153科,計583屬(shu)。全國(guo)重(zhong)點普(pu)查(cha)的(de)363個(ge)中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)中(zhong),白(bai)云山出(chu)產192種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。在河(he)(he)南(nan)重(zhong)點普(pu)查(cha)的(de)476個(ge)中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)中(zhong),白(bai)云山出(chu)產273種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。優質(zhi)中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)有(you)(you)射干(gan)、桔(jie)梗、柴胡、丹參、南(nan)山楂、蒼術等,大宗藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)有(you)(you)夏枯草(cao)(cao)、南(nan)沙參、半枝蓮、益母草(cao)(cao)、金銀花、馬鞭草(cao)(cao)等。其中(zhong),射干(gan)、桔(jie)梗以量大質(zhi)優成為北京同仁(ren)藥(yao)(yao)店(dian)藥(yao)(yao)材(cai)(cai)。1982年,河(he)(he)南(nan)省(sheng)醫(yi)藥(yao)(yao)總公司確定泌陽為射干(gan)生產基(ji)地縣。白(bai)云山畜牧養殖(zhi)條件得天獨厚,是(shi)(shi)南(nan)陽黃(huang)牛繁育基(ji)地之一,是(shi)(shi)泌陽驢的(de)中(zhong)心產地。
白(bai)(bai)云山廣泛分布著白(bai)(bai)貌垛(duo)祖(zu)師廟(miao)、老爺廟(miao)、張良廟(miao)、萬(wan)僧寺(si)、老崇寺(si)、羅漢寺(si)、龍潭寺(si)和(he)北泉寺(si)等(deng)眾(zhong)多古寺(si)廟(miao),星(xing)羅棋布著棋盤嶺(ling)、龍頭崖、龍椅、龍印(yin)、石船(chuan)、十八扭、神(shen)(shen)仙拉車、紗帽石、蛇頭石等(deng)諸(zhu)多神(shen)(shen)奇景(jing)觀。城頂寨(zhai)(zhai)、闖(chuang)王(wang)寨(zhai)(zhai)、大頂山寨(zhai)(zhai)、臺(tai)山寨(zhai)(zhai),寨(zhai)(zhai)寨(zhai)(zhai)相連;火龍洞、羅漢洞、臺(tai)山洞、神(shen)(shen)仙洞,洞洞溝通。這里是神(shen)(shen)奇的仙境,是人(ren)間的天堂。