Various dynamically important extragalactic large-scale structures in the
local Universe lie behind the Milky Way. Most of these structures (predicted
and unexpected) have only recently been made ``visible'' through dedicated deep
surveys at various wavelengths. The wide range of observational searches
(optical, near infrared, far infrared, radio and X-ray) for galaxies in the
Zone of Avoidance (ZOA) will be reviewed and the uncovered and suspected
large-scale structures summarised. Particular emphasis is given to the Great
Attractor region where the existence of yet another cluster is suspected (Woudt
1998). Predictions from reconstructions of the density field in the ZOA are
discussed and compared with observational evidence. Although no major
structures are predicted out to about v < 10000 km/s for which no observational
evidence exists, the comparison between reconstructed density fields and the
observed galaxy distribution remain important as they allow derivations of the
density and biasing parameters.Comment: To appear in PASA 16. Proceedings of workshop "HI in the Local
Universe, II", held in Melbourne, Sept. 1998. 9 pages, LaTeX2e, 1
encapsulated PS figur