| Santiago Apoala | |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality and town |
| Pushpin Map: | Mexico |
| Pushpin Label Position: | above |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Mexico |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Mexico |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Oaxaca |
| Area Total Km2: | 57.41 |
| Population As Of: | 2005 |
| Population Total: | 815 |
| Timezone: | Central Standard Time |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | Central Daylight Time |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 17.65°N -105°W |
Santiago Apoala is a village and municipality in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, located north of Oaxaca city. It is part of the Nochixtlán District in the southeast of the Mixteca Region.
The name “apoala” is from Nahuatl meaning “water that destroys”.[1] It is 1970m (6,460feet) above sea level. It is part of the Mixtec area of Oaxaca state and is also known by its Mixtec name of “Yutatnoho” which means “river where the lords come from”. Its foundation date is unknown but local legends say this was one of the first areas settled by the Mixtecs.[2]
There are two waterfalls nearby called Cascadas de Apoala and Cola de Serpiente (snake’s tail). Each is more than 50m (160feet) high and there are number natural springs in the area.[3]
As municipal seat, the village of Santiago Apoala has governing jurisdiction over the following communities:
Arriba de la Peña, Jazmín Morelos, San Antonio Nduayaco, Tierra Colorada, Unión Buena Vista (Yodocanit o Yodocani), and Unión Palo Solo