We investigate the structure of center projected vortices of SU(2) lattice
gauge theory at zero and finite temperature. At zero temperature we find, i
n agreement with the area law behaviour of Wilson loops, that most of the P
-vortex plaquettes are parts of a single huge vortex. This vortex is an uno
rientable surface and has a very irregular structure with many handles. Sma
ll P-vortices, and short-range fluctuations of the large vortex surface, do
not contribute to the string tension. At finite temperature P-vortices exi
st also in the deconfined phase. However, they form cylindric objects which
extend in time direction and consist only of space-space plaquettes.