  We use a combination of numerical simulations and experiments to elucidate
the structure of the flow of an electrically conducting fluid past a localized
magnetic field, called magnetic obstacle. We demonstrate that the stationary
flow pattern is considerably more complex than in the wake behind an ordinary
body. The steady flow is shown to undergo two bifurcations (rather than one)
and to involve up to six (rather than just two) vortices. We find that the
first bifurcation leads to the formation of a pair of vortices within the
region of magnetic field that we call inner magnetic vortices, whereas a second
bifurcation gives rise to a pair of attached vortices that are linked to the
inner vortices by connecting vortices.
